Did Houthis strike Saudi Arabia’s capital? Smoke seen at Riyadh's King Khalid International airport

Did Iran-backed Houthi rebels attack Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport? Dramatic visuals showing flames and thick black smoke near Saudi Arabia’s main airport have triggered fresh questions amid heightened tensions. Smoke was reported rising near the airport on September 19, as authorities issued rare air-raid alerts in Riyadh and nearby Al-Kharj over a “hostile aerial threat.” Explosions were also heard in the Saudi capital before civil defence later announced that the danger had passed. While reports linked the incident to escalating Yemen-related hostilities, the precise cause of the smoke near the airport was not officially confirmed at the time of reporting.