Smoke and flames were seen near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh early on Sept. 19, hours after Saudi civil defense authorities issued an air raid alert by phone, according to Reuters. The warning was later lifted, but Saudi authorities had not publicly explained the cause of the fire.
Air raid warning came before smoke appeared near the airport
The overnight alert covered Riyadh and Al-Kharj, east of the capital, and warned of a possible aerial attack. It was lifted on Saturday morning. Reuters described it as Saudi Arabia’s first air raid warning since fighting in Yemen intensified this month.
Video obtained by Reuters showed a huge column of black smoke rising from the area. In the foreground were the airport access road and the main terminal. Flames could also be seen at one point behind what appeared to be a fuel storage facility.
Flightradar24 set disruption at the maximum 5.0 level
Flight tracking site Flightradar24 rated disruption at King Khalid International Airport at 5.0, its highest level. That rating indicates serious operational trouble, prolonged delays, and multiple flight cancellations.
Saudi government did not immediately answer Reuters
Reuters said it asked the Saudi government media office about the smoke and the nighttime air raid alert but did not receive an immediate response. As of the report, officials had not explained what caused the fire or confirmed whether the area had been attacked.
The report also said Yemen’s Houthi movement has recently continued fighting with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, with the front centered east of Marib and around Taiz. It added that the group was reported to have taken control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the waterway linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and one of the key routes for Saudi crude exports.
Pakistan and Iran discussed energy and shipping the same day
On the same day, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. According to Radio Pakistan, Dar said energy supplies should not be disrupted and ships should be able to pass safely and quickly. He said both issues carry particular weight for developing countries and global supply chains.
Dar also said dialogue and diplomacy are the only workable path to regional peace and stability. The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and to meet in New York during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.