Saudi Arabia issued emergency alerts in several parts of the kingdom on Tuesday, September 15, warning residents of a “potential danger” and instructing them to follow safety measures. The warnings affected areas including Jeddah, Makkah and Taif, amid a recent escalation in attacks involving Yemen’s Houthi movement.
The Saudi Civil Defence issued the alerts through the National Early Warning Platform for Emergencies. Residents were instructed to move to safe locations, remain indoors where advised and stay away from windows and open areas. Authorities also urged people to follow official safety instructions and avoid gathering or taking photographs in affected areas.
The warnings came after a series of missile and drone attacks linked to the Houthis, who have intensified attacks against Saudi targets in recent days. Reuters reported that the group launched a new wave of attacks on Saudi Arabia, including an attack on a military base in Khamis Mushait in the country’s southwest. Saudi authorities reported that 13 civilians were wounded in those attacks.
The latest alerts were not limited to western Saudi Arabia. According to Saudi Civil Defence, warnings were also issued for Yanbu, AlUla, Abha and the Jazan region. Yanbu is an important Red Sea port and a major location for Saudi oil exports.
Saudi authorities later announced that the danger had passed in the affected areas. The Civil Defence said the threat had ended in Jeddah, Taif, Jazan, Abha, AlUla and Yanbu, while asking residents to continue following official instructions. The authority also advised people against gathering at affected locations or filming events.
The alerts followed a period of increased military activity involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. Reuters reported that the Houthis have stepped up attacks on Saudi cities and energy infrastructure while advancing along Yemen’s Red Sea coast toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important maritime passage.
The escalation represents a renewed phase of the conflict between the Houthis and forces supported by Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition against the Houthis since 2015. Fighting between the two sides had decreased substantially in recent years following a period of relative calm, but hostilities have intensified again this month.
The situation has also raised concerns about regional energy supplies. Reuters reported that recent attacks have affected Saudi energy infrastructure, including an attack that knocked the kingdom’s east-west oil pipeline offline. The pipeline provides an alternative route for Saudi oil exports when shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is restricted.
The emergency warnings in Makkah drew particular attention because the city is home to Islam’s holiest site, the Grand Mosque. However, the alerts issued by Saudi authorities described a general “potential danger” and did not announce that the Grand Mosque had been targeted.
Saudi authorities have continued to instruct residents and visitors to rely on official channels for information during the heightened security situation. The Civil Defence has also urged people to avoid spreading unverified reports, gathering in affected locations or attempting to photograph incidents.
As of Tuesday, the immediate emergency alerts in the affected cities had been lifted after Saudi Civil Defence announced that the danger had passed. Authorities nevertheless continued to call on the public to follow safety instructions as tensions in the region remained elevated.
