Black smoke was seen near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. This phenomenon followed explosions in the surrounding area and nighttime warnings about a "hostile aerial threat."
Details of the explosions and warnings
On Saturday, residents of Riyadh were encouraged to stay in their homes after receiving messages about a "hostile aerial threat." These messages reached the public before 3 AM and warned against gathering and filming near the airport. Journalists from news agencies reported that two explosions were heard in the vicinity.
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Following these warnings, the Saudi Civil Defense announced that the state of emergency was lifted half an hour after the explosions. Additionally, no reports of injuries or financial damages were published during this time.
Rising tensions and threats
This event occurred as attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen are increasing. Saudi Arabia recently accused the Houthis of attacking Mecca, but the Houthis denied this claim, calling it an "old lie."
Recently, Reuters published images of large black smoke near a road leading to the airport, which was clearly visible from an area close to the main terminal and other buildings. The flight tracking site FlightRadar24 also reported "serious issues" at King Khalid Airport, marking it in the maximum disruption index.
It is worth noting that this situation arose after the end of a ceasefire in 2022 between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which was disrupted after the Houthis allowed an Iranian plane to land in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen. This issue has led to increased tensions and the announcement of a maritime blockade by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia.
As a result of this escalation of tensions, the Houthis reported experiencing dozens of airstrikes on their positions in response to recent attacks by Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, control over coastal areas near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a vital global shipping route, is a priority for the Houthis.
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