Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia: Missile Intercepted Near Riyadh as Smoke Rises by Airport
Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia escalated on Saturday, September 19, as the Yemeni group said it launched missiles and drones at what it described as sensitive targets in Riyadh, while the Saudi-led coalition said air defenses destroyed a missile heading toward the capital.
The escalation coincided with flames and a large plume of black smoke near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, according to Reuters footage and eyewitness reporting. Saudi authorities had not immediately established publicly whether the fire was directly caused by a Houthi missile or drone.
Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia Reach Riyadh
The Houthis said missiles and drones were used against sensitive targets in the Saudi capital but did not identify the specific locations they said had been targeted.
The Saudi-led coalition said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi missile fired toward Riyadh early Saturday.
The coalition also said it had foiled attacks targeting civilians in Bish and Farasan in southwestern Saudi Arabia, Taif in the west and Yanbu on the Red Sea coast.
It did not immediately report damage from those attempted attacks.
Flames and Smoke Seen Near Riyadh Airport
Reuters video and photographs showed a large column of black smoke rising near Riyadh’s main international airport, with flames visible behind an area containing fuel-storage infrastructure.
Explosions were heard in Riyadh before Saudi Civil Defense issued an all-clear.
Authorities had sent emergency alerts to mobile phones warning of potential aerial danger in Riyadh and Al-Kharj before later announcing that the immediate threat had passed.
The cause of the fire had not been officially established at the time of reporting, making it important to distinguish the visual evidence near the airport from the Houthis’ separate claim of conducting attacks on the capital.
Houthis Claim Strike on Aramco Facility in Yanbu
The Houthis also said they targeted a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu, a major Red Sea energy hub.
The Saudi-led coalition, however, said an attack targeting Yanbu had been thwarted and did not announce damage to an Aramco facility.
The claim of a direct strike on the oil installation therefore remained unverified by Saudi authorities at the time of publication.
Yanbu has become increasingly important to Saudi energy exports as regional disruption puts pressure on both Red Sea shipping routes and the Strait of Hormuz.
Profile News recently reported on Saudi Aramco’s plans involving about 60 million barrels of crude and ship-to-ship transfers near Oman.
Security Alerts Across Saudi Arabia
The latest escalation followed a series of emergency warnings issued by Saudi Civil Defense for several locations including Jeddah, Taif, Yanbu, AlUla, Khamis Mushait, Riyadh and Al-Kharj.
Authorities subsequently issued all-clear messages after the threats passed.
Profile News has previously covered the broader Saudi-Houthi escalation and its connection to Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb security.
Regional Pressure Grows
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Saudi Arabia could have military needs as a result of the continuing Houthi attacks and that Turkey was prepared to offer assistance under a trilateral defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
The United Nations Security Council has also condemned continuing Houthi attacks affecting civilians and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and called for an end to military escalation in Yemen.
The latest attacks add pressure to regional energy and maritime routes at a time when shipping through both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz faces disruption.
Report Sources: Reuters, Saudi-led coalition, Saudi Civil Defense and Houthi statements.
