Saudi Arabia Issues Emergency Alerts in Seven Areas Over Unspecified Threat

RIYADH, Sept 18: Saudi Arabia issued emergency alerts in seven areas on Friday, warning residents of an unspecified threat and urging them to follow instructions delivered through the national early warning platform.

The General Directorate of Civil Defense issued separate alerts covering Jeddah, Taif, Yanbu, AlUla, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Abha through posts on X.

Authorities did not immediately disclose the nature of the threat that triggered the alerts. No casualties or damage were reported.

Civil Defense later announced that the danger had passed in the affected areas.

The alerts came a day after Saudi authorities reported that one person was killed and two others injured by falling debris from a Houthi drone intercepted over Taif province in western Saudi Arabia.

Saudi authorities have issued similar emergency warnings in recent days, including in Abha and Khamis Mushait, before subsequently declaring the danger had passed.

On July 20, Yemen's Houthi group announced what it described as a “maritime blockade” of Saudi Arabia and later claimed missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi vessels and sites.

Saudi Arabia has led a coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government since March 2015 in its conflict with the Houthis, who seized control of Sanaa and other parts of the country in 2014.