Houthis attacked the Saudi capital: black smoke rose near Riyadh airport

The Houthis in Yemen stated that they carried out an attack using missiles and drones on targets in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh and on energy facilities on the Red Sea coast. Near Riyadh airport, one of the fuel storage tanks caught fire, and black smoke rose from the area.

 

The Houthis' military spokesman, Yahya al-Sariya, said that "a large number of ballistic and winged missiles and drones" were used in the attacks. According to him, important targets in Riyadh and facilities belonging to the Saudi Aramco company in the city of Yanbu were targeted.

 

Saudi Arabian officials have not yet commented on the attack.

 

Ahead of the incident, Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense sent telephone warnings to the population in Riyadh and other areas about a possible threat. After that, reports spread that explosion sounds were heard in the city. At King Khalid International Airport, flights were delayed and canceled.

 

According to an AFP correspondent, firefighters tried to extinguish the fire in a burned fuel tank belonging to the Saudi Aramco company.

 

The Houthis stated that they carried out the attack in response to Saudi Arabia's strikes on Yemen's capital Sanaa. The group accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out 300 strikes on Yemeni territory over the past week.

 

According to AFP, citing sources from both sides in Yemen's civil war, 48 people were killed on Saturday in fighting between the Houthis and government forces supported by Saudi Arabia. The Houthis reported losing 31 fighters, while government forces reported losing 17 soldiers.

 

According to the UN International Organization for Migration, the number of people forced to flee as a result of the recent fighting has exceeded 104,796.

 

The Houthis have been in armed conflict for many years with Yemen's internationally recognized government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia. Over recent months, the group has repeatedly attacked targets on Saudi Arabian territory.