Aden (South24 Center)

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Flames and a thick plume of black smoke were seen rising near Riyadh airport on Saturday (September 19), an eyewitness told Reuters, amid heightened security alerts and escalating attacks on Saudi Arabia.

The cause of the incident was not immediately clear, and there was no evidence confirming that it was linked to an attack. The Saudi government’s media office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to Reuters.

#عاجل |
فيديو لرويترز يظهر تصاعد ألسنة اللهب والدخان الكثيف قرب مطار الملك خالد الدولي في العاصمة السعودية الرياض#south24 pic.twitter.com/r9g2AhhRyw

— South24 | عربي (@South24_net) September 19, 2026

Earlier on Saturday, Saudi Civil Defense issued alerts warning of a potential threat in Riyadh and Al-Kharj before later announcing the all-clear. A Reuters journalist said he heard two explosions in Riyadh’s Olaya district.

These were the first alerts of their kind issued in Riyadh since the Iran-aligned Houthi militia intensified its attacks on the Kingdom. The Associated Press reported that the emergency warnings referred to a “hostile aerial threat,” with no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The developments came hours after Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said his group had foiled what he described as unspecified “criminal attempts” in Sanaa, accusing Saudi Arabia of being behind them and vowing retaliation. The Houthi militia did not immediately claim responsibility for any incident near Riyadh airport.

The latest developments follow a series of missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi cities, civilian areas and energy facilities. Saudi authorities have reported more than 80 people injured and at least one person killed since the latest escalation began.

On Friday, the UN Security Council condemned “in the strongest terms” the continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including attacks affecting civilian and energy infrastructure and injuring civilians, including women and children. The council also condemned the Houthi military escalation inside Yemen.

The escalation inside Saudi Arabia coincides with intense fighting around Bab Al-Mandab and along South Yemen’s northern border.

A military source told South24 Center that the chief of staff of the 13th Southern Giants Brigade was killed in fighting against the Houthi militia on the Bab Al-Mandab front.

In Lahj Governorate, another military source said a Lahj resident was killed in a Houthi drone strike on the fronts of Al-Mudaribah wa Ras Al-Arah District. Military sources also reported the interception of a Houthi missile targeting the Turbah area within the district.

The fighting has moved closer to Bab Al-Mandab and Ras Al-Arah following the Houthis’ rapid advance along Yemen’s western coast, including their capture of the strategic port city of Mokha and positions near the international strait.