Black Smoke, Flames Seen Rising Near Riyadh Airport

Black smoke and flames were seen near Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, with firefighters battling a blaze involving a burnt-out fuel tank bearing the logo of Saudi oil giant Aramco, according to an AFP journalist at the scene.

Flight-tracking platform FlightRadar24 reported “major problems” at the airport, including cancellations and delays, placing the hub under its highest disruption category.

The incident came hours after Saudi authorities issued an overnight air-raid alert, urging residents in Riyadh and several other regions to remain indoors. Residents reported hearing explosions across parts of the capital before the alert was lifted.

One resident said black smoke and flames could be seen in the direction of the airport, while another described the incident as “terrifying”.

Saudi authorities have not publicly identified the source of the threat. The developments came amid an intensifying Houthi offensive in Yemen, where the Iran-backed group has seized territory along the Red Sea coast.

The Houthis have denied Saudi accusations that they targeted Mecca earlier this week, calling the claim a “worn-out lie”.

The latest escalation has raised concerns over regional security and shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key global trade route. UN figures indicate that renewed fighting in Yemen has displaced more than 112,000 people, while nearly 3,000 others have crossed the sea to Djibouti.