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Flames, smoke seen near Riyadh airport; Houthis claim attacks on Saudi capital
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile as FlightRadar24 reported major disruptions and several canceled flights at Riyadh’s airport.
On Saturday, Saudi civil defence issued an all-clear after a large plume of black smoke rose near Riyadh airport, following overnight alerts sent to residents in Riyadh and Al-Kharj.
These alerts were the first since the Houthis escalated attacks against Saudi Arabia in July, when the group declared a naval blockade against Riyadh and began launching strikes.
A journalist in the Olaya area heard booms before the all-clear was sent, while the Saudi government media office did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the smoke.
In a statement on Friday, the Security Council "condemned in the strongest terms continued Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," also condemning "Houthi military escalation in Yemen."
Separately, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed on Friday the group foiled "criminal attempts" in Sanaa, while the Iran-aligned group alleges the Saudi Air Force conducted hundreds of recent airstrikes.
After Saudi airstrikes, the Huthis strike back. Their shells aim at facilities of Saudi oil company Aramco. There is also a fuel tank in flames at the airport of Riyadh. Conflicts in the Middle East are threatening to spread.