RIYADH (LAHORE MIRROR) — Saudi Arabia on Tuesday issued emergency alerts in Jeddah, Taif and the holy city of Makkah, warning residents of a “potential danger” and urging them to seek shelter and follow safety instructions.
The alerts were issued through the National Early Warning Platform for Emergencies, according to the Saudi Civil Defence. Authorities did not immediately disclose the nature of the threat.
The warnings came amid heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement, which has claimed a series of missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi territory and infrastructure in recent days.
The Saudi-led coalition has responded with air strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.
The Civil Defence urged residents to remain calm and move to the nearest safe location, preferably inside a building or an interior room away from windows, until the threat had passed.
People were also advised to stay away from open areas, windows, balconies and rooftops. Those caught outdoors were told to enter the nearest building or seek protection behind a solid barrier.
The alerts followed a Houthi claim on Monday that dozens of missiles and drones had been launched towards a military airbase in Khamis Mushait in southern Saudi Arabia. The group said the attacks targeted aircraft hangars, radar systems, runways and ammunition depots in retaliation for Saudi air strikes in Yemen.
According to the Saudi-led coalition, the attacks wounded 13 civilians.
The latest escalation comes as the conflict places additional pressure on Saudi Arabia’s security and energy infrastructure. Houthi advances in recent days, including the reported capture of Perim Island at the entrance to the Red Sea, have further heightened regional tensions.
An aerial attack last week also knocked Saudi Arabia’s east-west oil pipeline offline. Riyadh blamed that attack on Iran-backed militias operating from Iraq.
The latest emergency warnings have added to concerns over the widening security risks facing major Saudi cities amid the escalating regional conflict.
