Houthi Rebels Launch Attacks on Riyadh, Setting Oil Tanks Ablaze

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen launched attacks on Saudi Arabia's capital city of Riyadh, setting fire to oil tanks and causing widespread flight cancellations.

The Saudi General Directorate of Civil Defense issued air raid alerts for multiple regions, including Riyadh, from the night of September 18 to the morning of September 19 local time. This marked the first alert issued for Riyadh since July, when the Houthi rebels intensified their attacks and declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia.

Reports of explosions in Riyadh continued until the morning of September 19. Although Saudi authorities lifted the alert after declaring that the hazardous situation had ended, flames and thick plumes of black smoke were spotted near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Flight tracking website Flightradar24 reported that flights at King Khalid International Airport were canceled or delayed.

The Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for carrying out two military operations against Saudi Arabia using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. Yahya Sarea, the military spokesman for the Houthi rebels, stated, 'The first operation targeted sensitive facilities in Riyadh, while the second operation targeted Aramco facilities in Yanbu.' He added that they will continue to target Saudi military capabilities until the blockade on Yemen is lifted.