Houthis Confirm Strike on Saudi Capital Riyadh

For the first time since the current escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia began, the Iranian-backed Yemeni terrorist organization attacked Riyadh, the Saudi capital. Drones launched by the Houthis exploded overnight Friday into Saturday at Riyadh’s major King Khalid International Airport, causing damage.

Reuters reported today that smoke was seen rising from the airport, while channels affiliated with the Iranian axis published footage of the explosions. Reuters wrote that an explosive drone struck a fuel storage facility.

Later, sirens were activated in the capital, Riyadh, as well as in the nearby Al-Kharj district. Before dawn, alerts were heard in many areas across Saudi Arabia: Yanbu, Taif, Jeddah, Khamis Mushait, Al-Ula, Jazan, and Abha.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a statement to the media that “following Saudi Arabia’s lie regarding the attack earlier this week on the city of Mecca, following Saudi Air Force strikes in Yemen, and in response to Saudi Arabia’s attempts to attack in Sana’a, the Houthis launched a large number of ballistic and guided missiles, as well as drones, at ‘sensitive targets in the Saudi enemy’s capital, Riyadh, and at a facility belonging to the Aramco oil company in Yanbu.’”

Meanwhile, Arab media outlets reported that Tehran is preventing the Houthis from reaching a ceasefire agreement with Saudi Arabia, to prolong the blockade at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and raise oil prices.