Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed they launched drones and missiles attacking the Saudi Arabian capital and a Red Sea coastal city in retaliation for hundreds of attacks over the past week.
On Saturday, 19 Sep 2026 GMT+7, the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, backed by Iran, announced they carried out attacks on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, and key energy sites along the Red Sea coast using drones and ballistic missiles.
Yahya al-Sari, the military spokesperson for the Houthis, stated that their forces launched numerous missiles and drones targeting "sensitive areas" in Riyadh and the Aramco oil storage facility in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast.
The Saudi government responded by stating its military successfully intercepted and destroyed the missiles aimed at Riyadh, and prevented attempts to attack civilians in Bish, Taif, Farasan, and Yanbu.
However, late Friday night (18 Sep 2026 GMT+7), Saudi authorities issued an aerial attack alert via mobile phones to some Riyadh residents, which was later canceled on Saturday morning.
Subsequently, reports emerged of black smoke rising from an Aramco oil tank near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, with firefighters working to control the blaze. The Saudi government did not clarify whether this smoke was caused by the Houthi attacks.
The smoke disrupted services at King Khalid International Airport, resulting in multiple flight delays and cancellations.
A Houthi spokesperson claimed the attack was retaliation for over 300 Saudi airstrikes on Yemen in the past week, including strikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. They also claimed the week’s clashes caused at least 48 deaths: 31 Houthis and 17 pro-government forces backed by Saudi Arabia.
The fighting in Yemen reignited since July. Last week, the Houthis seized the strategic port city of Mocha and Perim Island at the Red Sea entrance, enabling them to control the eastern side of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key chokepoint linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Saudi commercial and oil vessels rely on the Red Sea route for exports to Asia and Europe after the Strait of Hormuz was closed due to conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. The Houthis have declared a blockade and threatened attacks on commercial and oil tankers traveling to or from Saudi ports.
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Source:bbc