Huge Black Smoke, Flames Seen Near Riyadh Airport; Flights Face Major Disruption Amid Saudi-Houthi Conflict

Huge black smoke and fumes were seen rising near Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, September 19, with two eyewitnesses in the Saudi capital confirming the incident, according to AFP.

Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 also reported major disruptions at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, including flight cancellations and delays, after residents reported spotting smoke and flames near the airport. The airport was placed under FlightRadar24’s highest disruption index of 5.0, indicating “major problems with long delays and several cancelled flights.”

The disruption followed an overnight air raid alert issued by Saudi authorities the first such alert since fighting in neighbouring Yemen intensified this month.

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The latest developments come as the Kingdom remains locked in an escalating conflict with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The fighting has also led to attacks on Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure, including major ports and refineries, pushing oil prices above $100 for weeks.

Saudi Arabia, a major Gulf ally of the United States and a treaty-bound defence partner of Pakistan and Turkey under the recently signed Mecca pact, has not yet received significant support from its partners, according to the information available. The Kingdom is also facing a considerable impact on its primary source of revenue — oil exports.