Sirens blare in Riyadh, across Saudi Arabia amid amid Yemeni retaliatory strikes
Sirens warning of incoming missiles and unmanned combat aerial vehicles launched from Yemen have sounded in the Saudi capital Riyadh and elsewhere in the kingdom.
It comes as Yemeni Armed Forces continue strikes against strategic sites deep inside Saudi Arabia, in retaliation for Saudi airstrikes and the ongoing blockade against their nation.
The General Directorate of Saudi Civil Defense issued emergency warning notifications via the National Early Warning Platform to residents across Riyadh and the adjacent governorate of al-Kharj early on Saturday, warning of an immediate potential hazard.
The alert was directly broadcast to mobile devices using cellular network protocols, as multiple powerful explosions were heard in Riyadh.
Saudi Civil Defense authorities reportedly instructed residents to remain calm, stay indoors, and shelter in interior rooms away from windows, balconies, or glass surfaces.
Members of the public were also urged to avoid open spaces, gatherings in public areas, or filming emergency operations.
According to Saudi media outlets, similar sirens were also sounded in Yanbu port city on the Red Sea coast of western Saudi Arabia, al-Ula city northwest of the holy city of Medina, as well as the cities of Khamis Mushait, Jizan and Abha in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
Yemeni commander martyred in Saudi airstrike
Meanwhile, a high-ranking Yemeni military commander has been assassinated in a Saudi airstrike on the Kahboub area near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
General Firaq Mohsen al-Assar, Commander of the first Commando Brigade of the Yemeni Army, was killed alongside six of his guards in the aerial attack.
Saudi warplanes pound multiple locations in Yemen’s Ma’rib
Separately, Saudi fighter jets carried out a series of airstrikes against multiple locations in the southern part of Yemen’s central province of Ma’rib.
There were, however, no immediate reports about possible casualties or the extent of damage caused.
The Sana’a administration declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on July 20, in response to “an unfair and tyrannical siege” on Yemen lasting nearly 12 years.
The Yemeni military has announced several successful operations aimed at ships linked to Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea.
Yemeni outlets announced on Friday that the Armed Forces have seized strategic heights in the southwestern province of Lahij overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, advancing against Saudi-backed mercenary forces in the area.
Yemeni Armed Forces have also recently announced their control over Perim Island, also known as Mayyun Island in Arabic, strengthening their strategic position around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital maritime route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
In March 2015, Saudi Arabia and its allies imposed a blockade on Yemen and launched a sweeping military campaign, backed by military, political, and logistical support from the United States and several Western countries.
The war has killed tens of thousands of Yemenis. However, Saudi Arabia has failed to achieve its stated objective of reinstating a puppet regime that serves its interests.