Amid Houthi Attack, Explosions Heard In Riyadh For First Time Since The Conflict

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Sirens sounded twice on Friday and Saturday across Saudi Arabia capital city Riyadh. The Siren was the first since the  advance by Yemen’s Houthi rebels and their takeover of a stretch of coastline, taking control of the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Residents reportedly heard explosions in the city as Saudi civil defence issued an all-clear early after warning of potential danger in the capital Riyadh.

There are no damage or casualties reported so far.

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The first siren sounded at around 3 am local time while the second heard at 5.20 am in the nearby Al-Kharj region. Waves of alerts sounded in several other areas, including Yanbu, Taif, Jeddah, Khamis Mushait, AlUla, Jazan and Abha. Yanbu is home to a major oil export terminal that Saudi Arabia uses to ship crude abroad while bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.

Houthis had attacked Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline last week. Meanwhile, clashes between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia have intensified on several fronts, alongside airstrikes and rapid changes in territorial control.

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