Iran backed Houthi forces in Yemen have claimed responsibility for a series of drone and ballistic missile attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, including the capital Riyadh and energy infrastructure along the Red Sea coast.
Saudi authorities said air defences intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched towards Riyadh on Saturday. Officials did not confirm additional Houthi strikes or report casualties from the attack.
A column of black smoke was seen rising near fuel storage facilities close to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, while flights at the airport were temporarily disrupted. An AFP journalist reported seeing firefighters working to extinguish flames from a damaged Aramco fuel tank.
Air-raid warnings were activated across Riyadh for the first time since the Houthis intensified attacks against Saudi Arabia in July. Residents reported hearing several explosions across the capital after the alerts were issued.
Saudi authorities also said air-defence systems had intercepted what they described as hostile attempts targeting civilian areas in Bish, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya al-Sarea said the group had launched a large-scale operation involving ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones. The claimed targets included sensitive locations in Riyadh and facilities belonging to Saudi state oil and gas company Aramco in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast.
The Houthis said the attacks were carried out in retaliation for Saudi military operations against areas under their control in Yemen. Sarea had earlier accused Saudi Arabia of conducting hundreds of strikes across Yemen over the previous week.
The latest escalation comes amid the wider conflict between the Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognised government, which receives military and political backing from Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis have carried out repeated attacks against Saudi targets in recent months. The group also claimed responsibility earlier this week for the downing of a Saudi fighter jet over Yemen, although details surrounding the incident remain disputed.
The United States State Department warned Americans in the Middle East to remain vigilant and prepare for possible flight cancellations and other travel disruptions. It also advised US citizens to reconsider travel to and through parts of the region, citing the possibility of a rapid escalation in the conflict.
The violence has also intensified on the ground in Yemen. According to an AFP report citing military sources from both sides of the conflict, fighting on Saturday killed 48 people. Houthi sources said 31 of their fighters were killed, while government sources reported 17 deaths among their forces. The figures have not been independently verified.
The International Organization for Migration, a United Nations agency, reported on Friday that more than 104,796 people had been displaced by recent fighting.
The situation around Riyadh also caused disruption at King Khalid International Airport. Flight-tracking service FlightRadar24 reported delays and cancellations after explosions were heard in and around the capital.
Saudi Civil Defence had issued emergency alerts to residents in Riyadh and other parts of the country overnight before announcing an all-clear on Saturday morning.
Residents described hearing explosions after the warnings were issued, with some reporting that buildings shook during the incident.
The latest attacks come after the Houthis recently claimed control of the strategic port of Mokha and Perim Island, which sits near a major shipping route linking the Red Sea with international trade routes.
The group has said its moves in the Red Sea are linked to what it describes as a Saudi blockade of ports and airports in areas controlled by the Houthis. Saudi and regional authorities have disputed aspects of the group's claims.
The Red Sea has become increasingly important for energy shipments following major disruptions to regional shipping. Saudi vessels have relied on Red Sea routes for oil exports to markets in Asia and Europe after fighting involving Iran, Israel and the United States severely disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The continuing conflict is also creating uncertainty in global energy markets. JPMorgan said on Friday that the eventual impact of the war on oil prices was difficult to assess, reflecting uncertainty over how and when the wider regional conflict could end.
The latest Houthi claims and Saudi interceptions mark another escalation in hostilities between the two sides, raising fresh concerns over the security of Saudi energy infrastructure, civilian aviation and key shipping routes across the region.