Flames, huge plume of black smoke seen near Riyadh airport amid Houthi strikes

Residents of Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh witnessed smoke and flames rising from an area near the international airport on Saturday, news agencies AFP and Reuters reported.

The development came after Saudi Arabia warned of a “hostile aerial threat” and issued emergency alerts across the country, including Riyadh, late Friday and early Saturday. Flight-tracking data also showed “major problems” with aircraft arrivals and delays at the airport.

The alert in Riyadh was the first for the Saudi capital since the latest escalation of hostilities with Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis.