Explosions Rock Riyadh as Saudi Arabia Faces Fresh Houthi Attacks

Explosions rocked Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, early Sunday as the kingdom prepared to reopen its international airport after a two-week closure.

The blasts came amid renewed attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have intensified strikes on Saudi targets in recent weeks.

Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition backing Yemen’s government against the Iran-aligned Houthis. The latest escalation followed the collapse of a lengthy truce between the two sides.

King Khalid International Airport had announced plans to resume flights on Sunday. However, uncertainty remained over the extent of its operations amid continuing security threats.

The Houthis have repeatedly targeted the airport in recent weeks. One attack earlier this month killed 13 people and injured more than 300 others.

The strike became the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade. The Houthis have also targeted oil facilities and other strategic sites.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition said its air defences intercepted 10 Houthi missiles launched towards southern parts of the kingdom on Sunday.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned airlines, passengers and airport workers against using the Riyadh facility.

He described the airport as unsafe and a military target, while warning Saudi authorities of consequences from any operations there.

An AFP journalist in Riyadh heard three explosions during the early hours of Sunday. Residents also received alerts warning of a hostile aerial threat.

The messages urged people to remain in safe locations as Saudi air defences responded to the attacks.

The Saudi-led coalition later said it intercepted a ballistic missile launched towards Riyadh. It also reported shooting down two drones in the capital’s vicinity.

Later in the morning, the coalition announced the interception of a cruise missile fired towards Khamis Mushait in southern Saudi Arabia.

Authorities also issued security warnings for Abha and Namas Governorate as attacks appeared to spread across the southern region.

A resident of Khamis Mushait described the bombardment as intense, saying the explosions caused buildings and surroundings to shake.

The latest attacks followed Houthi claims that its forces struck three Saudi airports within 24 hours. The group also claimed attacks on energy facilities, a pipeline and an air base.

Saudi civil defence authorities said falling debris reached parts of the Mecca and Medina regions on Saturday. The debris followed the interception of two Houthi missiles.

The Houthis denied targeting the two cities, which hold Islam’s holiest sites. They dismissed the Saudi account as false.

The rebels also launched attacks against Aden in southern Yemen, the temporary seat of the Saudi-backed government. They said they targeted a naval base and a military camp under Saudi oversight.

The renewed fighting has further destabilised Yemen and the wider region. It has also disrupted oil markets and raised fresh concerns over regional security.

The Houthis seized control of Yemen’s entire Red Sea coastline in a rapid offensive last month. The development has added another layer to the region’s growing instability.

The attacks have also affected Saudi businesses, airlines and residents. They threaten to undermine Riyadh’s efforts to project itself as a stable destination for global investment and tourism.