Drone strike on Riyadh airport fuel depot causes fire and disruption

Yemen's Houthi movement struck fuel storage tanks at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, according to an account of the attack. Thick black smoke and flames rose above the Saudi capital. The depot sits near the airport's main terminal building and access highways, and storage tanks carrying the logo of state oil company Saudi Aramco caught fire. Firefighters were sent to tackle the blazes.

Saudi authorities issued an overnight air raid alert, and residents reported sequential explosions. The warning, sent to mobile devices by the country's Civil Defense, told residents of a "hostile aerial threat" and instructed them to stay indoors. Hours later, further blasts were reported while emergency crews worked the fires.

Operations at the airport were affected. Flight-tracking service FlightRadar24 recorded what was described as significant operational friction following the incident.

The strike was described as the first time in four years that the group has hit the main international transit hub serving Riyadh.