Riyadh Hit by Air Raid Alerts as Houthi Attacks Escalate
Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, was hit by air raid alerts on Friday night and Saturday morning after explosions were reported in the city. This is the first time such alerts have been issued in Riyadh since the Houthis escalated their attacks in July.
The Saudi Civil Defense sent out warnings for the capital and several other regions, advising residents to avoid gathering in crowds. Journalists from Reuters and AFP heard explosions in Riyadh, but authorities later confirmed that the danger had passed.
The tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis have been escalating in recent weeks. The Houthis recently seized control of the strategic port city of Mokha and Perim Island, which is a key gateway to a shipping route used by Saudi vessels to export oil to Asia and Europe.