Houthis Claim Missile, Drone Attacks on Riyadh and Saudi Oil Hub

Yemen’s Houthis said they launched missile and drone attacks on “sensitive” sites in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Saturday, escalating a conflict that has increasingly threatened the kingdom’s cities, energy infrastructure and oil exports.

The Houthi announcement came hours after flames and a large column of black smoke were seen near Riyadh’s main airport. Reuters footage showed smoke rising over the area, with flames appearing behind what looked like fuel tanks. Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm that an attack had caused the fire.

The Houthis did not identify their alleged targets in Riyadh but also claimed an attack on a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu, a major Red Sea oil-export center. The group said the operation was retaliation for an attack in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.

Saudi civil defense issued overnight phone alerts warning of possible aerial attacks in Riyadh and Al-Kharj, east of the capital. An all-clear was issued Saturday morning. A Reuters journalist in Riyadh reported hearing explosions before the warning was lifted.

The latest escalation follows months of mounting hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen and the country’s heavily populated areas. Since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July, the group has targeted Saudi vessels, cities and energy facilities.

The attacks have heightened concerns over global oil supplies as instability affects Red Sea shipping routes while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said Friday that the group had thwarted unspecified “criminal attempts” in Sanaa, blamed Saudi Arabia and promised retaliation. The Houthis have also accused the Saudi Air Force of conducting hundreds of strikes in Yemen in recent days.

Meanwhile, Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei told Al Jazeera that Tehran wanted the Saudi-Houthi conflict to end and supported a settlement.

The UN Security Council on Friday condemned continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes affecting civilian and energy infrastructure, while also denouncing the group’s military escalation inside Yemen.