Saudi Arabia issued air-raid alerts for Riyadh on September 19, 2026, as plumes of black smoke were seen near King Khalid International Airport. The alerts, the first in the capital since March and April, were issued by Saudi Civil Defense before an all-clear was given. The incident occurs amid escalating attacks by Yemen's Houthi group.
The escalating conflict in the region threatens global oil supplies and shipping routes, impacting energy markets and international trade.
Saudi Arabian authorities issued air-raid alerts for Riyadh on September 19, 2026, as booms were heard and a large plume of black smoke was visible near King Khalid International Airport. Saudi Civil Defense sent emergency alerts by phone overnight for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj, before issuing an all-clear on Saturday morning. The alerts were the first in the capital since the escalation began with the Houthis in July.
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen and much of the north, have been launching attacks towards Saudi Arabia since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July, with strikes targeting Saudi vessels in the Red Sea. The attacks have created new threats to global oil supplies, putting at risk the main alternative Red Sea route for Gulf exports while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded.
On Friday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had foiled unspecified "criminal attempts" in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, blaming Saudi Arabia and vowing a response. The Iran-aligned group says the Saudi Air Force has conducted hundreds of airstrikes against it in recent days. The UN Security Council in a statement on Friday "condemned in the strongest terms continued Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including attacks impacting civilian and energy infrastructure, which have resulted in the injury of civilians, including women and children."