Black smoke was seen billowing near King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, on Saturday, following overnight warnings of a "hostile aerial threat." Explosions were reported in the vicinity, according to local sources.

Reuters published video and photos showing a large plume of black smoke rising from an area with a highway leading to the airport, with the main terminal building and other structures in the foreground. No casualties or damage have been reported, and Saudi authorities have not yet stated what prompted the alerts or the cause of the audible explosions. They previously reported intercepting incoming Houthi missiles and drones.

Saudi Civil Defense issued warnings advising people to avoid gathering and filming or photography. "The area is under a hostile aerial threat," read a message received by Riyadh residents before 3:00 a.m., urging them to stay indoors. AFP journalists reported hearing two explosions before the alert was lifted half an hour later. Reuters also reported overnight warnings in Riyadh and Al-Kharj, east of the capital, before an all-clear was issued. A Reuters journalist in Riyadh's Olaya area heard booms before the all-clear.

Tracking website FlightRadar24 reported "major problems" at King Khalid International Airport, listing it under its maximum disruption index. The developments come amid an escalation in attacks by Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi militants. Just days ago, Riyadh accused the Houthis of targeting Mecca, an accusation the group denied as a "worn-out lie."

The escalation follows the collapse of a 2022 truce between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia in July, after the rebels allowed an Iranian plane to land in Sanaa, defying Saudi control over Yemeni airspace. In response, the Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia. The group has reported dozens of Saudi strikes since its recent offensive to secure control over coastal areas near the Red Sea's Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital global shipping route.

Source: www.dw.com