Saudi authorities briefly warn of 'aerial threat' in Riyadh
Saudi authorities briefly warned Riyadh's residents of an aerial threat on Monday, a day after an attack on a skyscraper belonging to oil giant Aramco rattled the capital's business district.
Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, has faced near-daily strikes from Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis for weeks, after a truce in their long-running conflict unraveled in July.
"Warning. The area is under a hostile aerial threat. Please remain calm, stay indoors or in a safe place away from windows and doors, and follow the instructions of Civil Defense," the message said, before the warning was lifted minutes later.
The Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen, Saudi Arabia's impoverished southern neighbor, did not announce a fresh attack on Riyadh on Monday.
But they did report a Saudi strike on Hodeida airport on the Red Sea, which has long been out of use.
The Houthis' Almasirah television also said the death toll from weekend Saudi strikes on a village in Sanaa province had climbed to 44, including more than 20 children.
On Sunday, the Houthis claimed attacks on Riyadh's business district, where witnesses said Aramco Tower was damaged.
Saudi authorities said the building suffered minor damage from falling shrapnel after an "attempted attack".
The Houthis have repeatedly struck Aramco facilities in recent months, targeting tankers, refineries, storage areas and the company headquarters.
A Saudi-led coalition initially opened hostilities with the Houthis in March 2015, months after the Iran-allied group seized the capital Sanaa forcing out the internationally recognized government.
Source: Agence France Presse
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