RIYADH — Yemen’s Houthi movement carried out a strike targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, striking main jet fuel storage tanks and sending a massive plume of black smoke and flames soaring over the Saudi capital.
The attack marks the first time in four years that the Iran-aligned group has successfully struck the primary international transit hub servicing Riyadh, signaling a sharp escalation in the regional conflict.
Strikes Target Aviation Fuel Infrastructure
Eyewitnesses and visual footage verified by Reuters showed a heavy column of dark smoke billowing from a fuel storage depot adjacent to the airport’s main terminal building and access highways.Firefighters rushed to the scene to combat blazes engulfing storage tanks bearing the logo of state oil giant Saudi Aramco.
Residents in the capital reported hearing sequential explosions following an overnight air raid alert issued by Saudi authorities, the first emergency broadcast to cover Riyadh since fighting in neighboring Yemen intensified.
The alert, pushed directly to mobile devices by Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense, warned residents of a “hostile aerial threat” and instructed them to remain indoors before the initial warning was lifted.However, subsequent blasts were reported hours later as emergency crews fought the fires.
Heavy Travel Disruption Hits Key Transit Hub
The strikes caused widespread operations impact at King Khalid International Airport, one of the busiest aviation gateways in the Middle East.
Flight-tracking service FlightRadar24 registered significant operational friction following the incident, briefly placing the airport on its maximum disruption index as airlines faced compound delays, diversions, and cancellations. While limited flight movements resumed later in the day, schedules across major international and domestic routes were severely impacted.
Saudi government media offices did not immediately issue an official statement regarding the extent of casualties or structural damage at the fuel depot.
Escalation Follows Collapsed Truce
The long-range drone strike comes amid a major resurgence of hostilities between Saudi-backed forces and Houthi fighters. Following months of heightened tensions and the breakdown of a fragile truce, the Houthis have launched renewed offensive operations, targeting both critical infrastructure within Saudi Arabia and strategic maritime routes in the Red Sea.
The attack on Riyadh’s core energy and transportation infrastructure represents a significant breach of Saudi air defenses, threatening to disrupt global aviation corridors and deepen regional security concerns. International security observers warn that the direct strike on Saudi civilian infrastructure could trigger a severe military response from the Saudi-led coalition.
