Flames and a large plume of black smoke are reported near Riyadh’s main airport, after Saudi Arabia issues alerts overnight and later an all-clear. Multiple outlets cite Reuters reporting and video/photos showing a huge column of smoke rising in the area, with airport facilities and nearby roads visible.
Reuters and other reports say booms were heard before the smoke was seen, but the exact cause of the fire is not immediately known. One Reuters account describes flames rising from behind what appeared to be fuel tanks. Outlets also note that Saudi Arabia’s alerts were linked to warnings of a potential “hostile aerial threat” amid rising tensions with Yemen’s Houthi movement. Some outlets emphasize the sequence of alerts followed by an all-clear, while others focus on the visible imagery and the uncertainty over what triggered the blaze.
