Security Alert Issued as Smoke Envelops Riyadh International Airport

A series of explosions near King Khalid International Airport triggered a large black smoke column that hovered over the airport's main road and terminal buildings. The incident unfolded amid rising attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels, marking the first time Saudi Arabia's capital has been directly affected since the civil war in Yemen reignited. The smoke plume, captured in Reuters videos, showed orange flames flickering behind fuel tanks, while flight monitoring platforms recorded a significant number of flight cancellations and prolonged delays. The airport's disruption level was rated at 5.0, the highest category for operational disturbance.