In short
- Houthi military spokesman Yahya al-Sarea said a “large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones” targeted “sensitive sites” in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu on Saturday 19 September.
- Saudi authorities said they intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired at Riyadh on Saturday, and a Saudi-led coalition spokesperson said air defences also stopped attacks on the cities of Bish, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu.
- Air raid alerts sounded in Riyadh for the first time since the Houthis increased their attacks on Saudi Arabia in July, and flights at King Khalid International Airport were temporarily disrupted.
- The International Organization for Migration, a UN body, said on Friday that the number of people displaced by recent fighting in Yemen had passed 104,796.
- AFP reported that fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces killed 48 people on Saturday: 31 Houthi fighters and 17 government soldiers, according to military sources on both sides.
Houthi militants in Yemen said they attacked Riyadh and facilities belonging to the state oil and gas company Aramco in Yanbu with ballistic and cruise missiles and drones on Saturday 19 September, while Saudi authorities said they intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired at the capital. Smoke rose from fuel tanks near Riyadh’s international airport and flights were briefly disrupted.
What did the Houthis say they attacked?
Houthi military spokesman Yahya al-Sarea said in a statement posted online that a “large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones” had been used against “sensitive sites” in Riyadh and against Aramco facilities in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast. Al-Sarea said the attacks were “in response to the Saudi enemy’s criminal attempts” to target Sanaa, the Yemeni capital controlled by the Houthis. He had earlier accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out 300 strikes across Yemen in the past week.
What did Saudi Arabia say?
Saudi authorities said they intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired at Riyadh on Saturday. They did not confirm other strikes or any casualties. A spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition said air defences also stopped “hostile attempts to target civilians” in the cities of Bish, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu. Air raid alerts sounded in the capital for the first time since the Houthis increased their attacks on Saudi Arabia in July.
What happened at Riyadh’s airport?
A column of black smoke was seen rising from fuel tanks near Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, where flights were temporarily disrupted on Saturday. Tracking website FlightRadar24 reported delays and cancellations. An AFP journalist reported that firefighters were trying to extinguish flames from a burnt-out Aramco fuel tank. Saudi Civil Defence sent phone alerts overnight warning of danger in Riyadh and other regions, before issuing an all-clear on Saturday morning.
What has the United States advised?
The US State Department urged Americans in the Middle East to “exercise vigilance and be prepared for potential flight cancellations and other travel disruptions”. It said Americans “should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region”, adding: “Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including civilian airports. This military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly.”
How is the war affecting Yemen and oil shipping?
The Houthis recently seized the Red Sea port of Mokha and Perim Island, a gateway to a key shipping route used by Gulf states to export to Asia and Europe. Saudi vessels have relied on that stretch of the Red Sea for oil exports since the US and Israel’s war with Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, and Saudi Arabia has separately shut its East-West oil pipeline after a drone attack from Iraq. On Friday, investment bank JP Morgan said it was struggling to predict how oil prices would be affected by the war, telling investors in a note that “we simply don’t know how to model the endgame”.
How many people have been displaced?
On Friday the International Organization for Migration, a UN body, reported that the number of people displaced by recent fighting had passed 104,796. AFP, quoting military sources on both sides, reported that fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces killed 48 people on Saturday: the Houthis said 31 of their fighters had been killed, while government sources said their side had lost 17 soldiers.
Frequently asked questions
Did Saudi Arabia intercept the missile fired at Riyadh?
Saudi authorities said they intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired at Riyadh on Saturday 19 September. They did not confirm further strikes or any casualties.
Which Houthi spokesman announced the attacks?
Houthi military spokesman Yahya al-Sarea said in a statement posted online that a “large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones” were used against “sensitive sites” in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu.
How many people have been displaced by fighting in Yemen?
The International Organization for Migration, a UN body, said on Friday that the number of people displaced by recent fighting had passed 104,796.
Has the US advised against travel to the Middle East?
The US State Department urged Americans to exercise vigilance, be prepared for flight cancellations and “seriously reconsider travel to and through the region”.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)