The Houthis said they targeted “sensitive sites” in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. Yanbu hosts a major Red Sea oil export terminal. An Aramco fuel tank near Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport caught fire, and flights were canceled or delayed. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree did not specifically name the airport as a target. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile headed toward Riyadh and thwarted attacks on Bish, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu. Civil Defense issued two waves of alerts for Riyadh and Al-Kharj overnight before giving the all-clear.
The State Department urged Americans to “seriously reconsider” travel to or through the Middle East, warning that Saudi-Houthi fighting could escalate rapidly and cause flight cancellations and airspace closures. Alerts covered nine countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq. Turkey’s foreign minister signaled technical military support for Saudi Arabia under last month’s Mecca Defense Alliance, saying the kingdom could invoke its defense agreement with Turkey and Pakistan to receive military assistance.