Smoke was reported rising from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday afternoon following a drone strike, according to the Abu Ali Express channel. Saudi authorities have suspended takeoffs and landings at the airport. No group has claimed responsibility.
A drone strike targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday afternoon, sending up smoke and prompting Saudi authorities to suspend all flight operations, according to the Abu Ali Express channel. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and there was no immediate official Saudi statement. The report did not specify the drone's origin or any casualties.
The drone strike extends a day of escalating Houthi aggression against the Saudi capital. The Zioneer first reported unverified missile activity over Riyadh at 03:41 Jerusalem. By 05:25 Jerusalem, it was confirmed that Houthi forces had struck Riyadh twice overnight — the first such attacks on the city in the current regional escalation. Sirens were activated in the capital for the first time in the escalation, and a video purportedly showing a Houthi missile impact circulated. At 07:50 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that explosions at King Khalid Airport itself were attributed to Houthi missiles, with Saudi authorities threatening severe penalties for sharing footage of the strikes. The Houthi missile barrage later expanded to eight Saudi provinces, with air defense interceptions over Riyadh only partially successful, as reported at 05:25 Jerusalem.
The Iran-backed Houthi terror movement has significantly escalated its campaign against Saudi Arabia in recent months. The Zioneer has previously reported on Houthi and Iranian-affiliated drone and missile attacks targeting Saudi airports and oil infrastructure. The current wave marks the first time Riyadh has been directly struck during this regional escalation, representing a major expansion of the Houthi threat.
Several questions remain open: Saudi authorities have not issued an official statement on the drone strike, the source of the drone is unconfirmed, and no group has claimed responsibility. The Abu Ali Express report has not been independently verified by The Zioneer. It also remains unclear whether this drone strike is linked to the earlier Houthi missile attacks or originates from a different actor.
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