On 19 September 2026, the Iran-backed Houthi movement said it had launched a coordinated assault using ballistic and cruise missiles and drones against Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu, on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. The claim came as dark smoke rose near King Khalid International Airport, flights were delayed or cancelled, and residents received civil-defence warnings to remain indoors. Saudi authorities had not issued a public response by the time of publication.
Smoke and disruption in Riyadh
The most visible sign of the attack was a plume of black smoke near the Saudi capital’s main airport, apparently coming from fuel storage tanks. Residents reported hearing several explosions after alerts were sent to mobile phones overnight, while the Saudi Civil Defence later issued an all-clear on Saturday morning.
An AFP journalist at the scene said firefighters were working to put out flames around a burnt-out Aramco fuel tank. FlightRadar24, which tracks aircraft movements, recorded delays and cancellations at King Khalid International Airport, although services were only temporarily disrupted.
The warnings marked the first such alert in
