Saudi Arabia issues first Riyadh air raid alerts since Houthi escalation

September 19, 2026 at 09:20 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Saudi Arabia issued air raid alerts for Riyadh and several other regions late Friday and Saturday, with explosions reported in the capital. Authorities later gave the all-clear and urged residents to avoid crowds. The alerts mark the first for Riyadh since the Houthis escalated attacks and declared a maritime embargo in July.

Key Facts

Air raid alerts were issued for Riyadh and several other Saudi regions late Friday night and Saturday morning local time.
The Houthis seized the strategic port city of Mokha and Perim Island, gateway to a key shipping route used by Saudi Arabia for exports to Asia and Europe.
Last week, Houthi drones and missiles attacked several Saudi oil facilities, causing fires and temporary halts in operations.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked US President Donald Trump to take military action against the Houthis, but Trump declined direct involvement, offering intelligence and targeting support instead.
The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Tuesday, where Yemen's government and Saudi Arabia called for more decisive action against the Houthis.

Air Raid Alerts

Saudi Civil Defence sent alerts for the capital and several other regions late on Friday night and Saturday morning local time. Journalists from Reuters and AFP reported hearing explosions in Riyadh. Authorities later said the danger had passed and urged residents to avoid gathering in crowds. This was the first time alerts had been issued in Riyadh since the Houthis increased their attacks and declared a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia in July.

Houthi Escalation

The Houthis recently seized control of the strategic port city of Mokha and Perim Island, a gateway to a key shipping route used by Saudi Arabia to export to Asia and Europe. The group's military spokesman said the naval blockade was in retaliation for a Saudi blockade of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled north-western Yemen. Last week, the Houthis attacked several Saudi oil facilities with drones and missiles, causing fires which led to operations being temporarily halted. Earlier this week, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the Houthis had launched drones and missiles at Saudi Arabia in retaliation for more than 450 Saudi air strikes on their territory over the past week.

International Response

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally asked US President Donald Trump to take military action against the Houthis, two sources familiar with the matter told CBS News. Trump has so far declined to involve the US military directly, offering instead to assist with intelligence and targeting support. A senior Trump administration official said: "We are in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen government regarding regional stability." The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on Tuesday, during which both Yemen's government and Saudi Arabia called for more decisive action against the Houthis. Council members agreed that freedom of navigation in the Red Sea must be maintained to prevent disruption to global supply chains.