Saudi Arabia’s civil defense agency issued aerial-attack alerts for Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj on Saturday, while Pakistan’s foreign minister engaged in a diplomatic call with his Iranian counterpart regarding the security of regional energy supplies. Shortly after the alerts, Reuters reported a large plume of smoke and flames visible near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, though an official cause was not immediately confirmed.
The Directorate of Saudi Civil Defense issued the alerts early Saturday. The Reuters news agency also reported that its correspondents in the capital heard two loud sounds prior to the visual confirmation of smoke near the airport. Saudi authorities did not immediately release a statement or respond to requests for comment regarding the nature of the alerts or the cause of the smoke.
These events occurred amid ongoing regional tensions. Houthi forces in Yemen, which are aligned with Iran, have increased attacks against Saudi Arabia in recent weeks and have conducted military operations near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime chokepoint.
Separately on Saturday, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Dar “stressed the importance of uninterrupted energy supplies and the safe and expeditious passage of ships, particularly given their implications for developing countries and global supply chains.”
The ministry’s post added that the two diplomats agreed to meet during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The discussions on energy security follow a drone attack on Sept. 11 that damaged Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, which is used to transport crude oil to the Red Sea. Saudi officials stated the attack originated in Iraq.
In other regional developments, the U.S. administration recently approved a potential sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets and related equipment to Saudi Arabia, valued at an estimated $24.3 billion. The U.S. State Department also confirmed that a delegation from Iran would be permitted to attend the U.N. General Assembly, in accordance with U.S. obligations as the host country.
