Riyadh Airport Faces Major Disruptions Amid Suspected Houthi Attack
What Happened
A large plume of black smoke and flames was seen near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh after explosions were heard in the Saudi capital. Witnesses reported seeing fire and smoke in the airport area, while photos and video showed flames near what appeared to be fuel storage facilities. Saudi authorities had earlier issued a rare overnight warning of a possible“hostile aerial threat” over Riyadh and nearby areas before later issuing an all-clear. Saudi officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the incident.
Key Takeaways
The incident caused severe disruption to air traffic, with FlightRadar24 placing Riyadh airport at its highest disruption level of 5.0, indicating major delays and multiple cancellations. The developments come amid escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi movement, which has intensified attacks on Saudi cities, energy infrastructure and shipping routes in recent weeks.