Black smoke near Riyadh airport as tensions with Houthis rise

A thick plume of black smoke rose near Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, and two explosions were heard, as authorities issued an overnight air raid alert in the capital amid renewed Yemen-Houthis clashes^2,11. Fire crews battled a burnt fuel tank near the airport, with FlightRadar24 listing the hub at maximum disruption as flights faced major delays and cancellations^11,7.

Eyewitnesses described flames and smoke in the airport area, while state media remained quiet on the exact cause of the incident^1,13. The events followed Houthi attacks and a Saudi response in Yemen, sparking global concerns about energy and shipping routes and prompting international discussions around regional security and the oil supply chain^4,10.

The UN, citing the risk to maritime trade and humanitarian conditions, called for restraint as the crisis deepened, with the Houthis vowing retaliation for Saudi strikes and a blockade⁴.

As alarms faded into an all-clear on Saturday morning, residents and travelers faced lingering uncertainty about the next steps and the potential for further disruptions in a tense regional standoff^5,10.