Sirens sound in Riyadh as Yemeni forces continue strikes on Saudi Arabia

Saudi Civil Defense authorities issued emergency warning notifications to residents across Riyadh and the adjacent governorate of al-Kharj early on Saturday, according to the National Early Warning Platform. The alerts were broadcast directly to mobile devices via cellular network protocols, and multiple powerful explosions were heard in Riyadh.

The warnings came as the Yemeni Armed Forces continued strikes against strategic sites deep inside Saudi Arabia. The Yemeni military has described the operations as retaliation for Saudi airstrikes and an ongoing blockade against Yemen.

Saudi Civil Defense instructed residents to remain calm, stay indoors, and shelter in interior rooms away from windows, balconies, or glass surfaces. The public was also urged to avoid open spaces, gatherings in public areas, and filming emergency operations.

According to Saudi media outlets, similar sirens were also sounded in several other locations: the port city of Yanbu on the Red Sea coast in western Saudi Arabia, al-Ula city northwest of Medina, and the cities of Khamis Mushait, Jizan, and Abha in the southwest.

The alert system used cellular broadcasts to reach mobile devices, a method designed to deliver immediate warnings of potential hazards. There was no immediate official statement from Saudi authorities on the cause of the explosions or the extent of any damage.

The incident marks a continuation of cross-border hostilities between Yemen's Ansarullah movement and Saudi Arabia, which has led a military coalition in Yemen since 2015. The conflict has repeatedly seen missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi territory, with Riyadh reporting intercepts of such projectiles.

Mehr News Agency (MNA) reported the events, noting that the Yemeni Armed Forces have pledged to continue operations until the blockade is lifted and airstrikes cease.