Saudi Arabia issues first air-raid alert in Riyadh as Houthi attacks threaten oil routes
Saudi authorities sounded an air-raid warning near Riyadh’s main airport after explosions were heard overnight, while Houthi advances along the Red Sea have raised concerns about disruptions to global oil supplies.
Smoke and flames were reported near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday after loud booms were heard overnight. Saudi officials issued the capital’s first air-raid alert in recent weeks, cancelled flights and later declared the situation clear.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who recently seized territory along the Red Sea coast, have intensified concerns over oil shipments. Their control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an alternative export route for Saudi crude, coincides with ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz between the United States and Iran, pushing crude prices above $100 a barrel.
Houthi spokespeople claimed the Saudis carried out 26 air attacks against them within a 24-hour period. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman had previously sought U.S. military assistance, but the request was not granted.
Saudi state oil company Saudi Aramco warned European customers that deliveries could be delayed next month after attacks on an east-west pipeline, which the company attributes to Houthi actions.
"Clearly, momentum is building," said Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, adding that American forces have helped move more than one billion barrels of crude through the Strait of Hormuz in recent months and have escorted over 2,000 commercial vessels while keeping Iranian exports at zero.
The developments underscore heightened regional instability and its potential impact on global energy markets.