Saudi Civil Defence Lifts Danger Alert for Riyadh and Al-Kharj After Houthi Threats

Saudi civil defence issued an all-clear early on Saturday after earlier warning of potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj, east of the capital. The alert was the first for Riyadh since Houthi forces in neighbouring Yemen stepped up their attacks on Saudi Arabia.

A journalist in Riyadh's Olaya district reported hearing two booms around the time of the warning. No further details on the cause or impact were immediately available.

The warning came hours after the Houthi military spokesperson said the group had thwarted unspecified "criminal attempts" in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, and blamed Saudi Arabia while promising a response.

The Houthis, who control Yemen's most populous areas and much of the north, have been launching attacks towards Saudi Arabia since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July. Their strikes have targeted Saudi vessels in the Red Sea.

The group has seized Yemen's entire Red Sea coast over the past week in a rapid advance. It says the Saudi Air Force has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in recent days.