Saudi Arabia issues emergency warnings in two regions

The alerts followed a fresh Houthi claim of a missile attack on Riyadh airport and the death of an Indian national injured in an earlier strike.

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence issued emergency warnings in Sharurah and Yanbu governorates on Thursday, November 5, through the National Early Warning Platform, alerting residents to potential danger and urging them to follow safety instructions.

In separate alerts posted on X, the authority urged residents to remain calm and move immediately to the nearest safe location, preferably inside a building or an interior room away from windows.

Residents were advised to stay indoors until the danger had passed and avoid open spaces, windows, glass, balconies and rooftops. Those outdoors were instructed to enter the nearest building or seek shelter behind a solid barrier.

Motorists who received an emergency alert while driving were advised to pull over away from bridges and high-rise buildings.

Civil Defence also cautioned residents against gathering near potentially dangerous locations or filming incidents. It urged them to follow instructions issued through official channels.

For emergencies, residents were advised to call 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, while 998 is the emergency number for other regions of the Kingdom.

Danger passes in Sharurah and Yanbu

In subsequent updates, Saudi Civil Defence announced that the danger had passed in both Sharurah and Yanbu governorates. However, it urged residents to continue following safety instructions and avoid gatherings and filming.

The alerts come amid an escalation in Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia since July 2026, which intensified in October. Missile and drone launches have reportedly targeted airports, oil infrastructure and military installations across the Kingdom.

On Wednesday, November 4, Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for a fresh missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, alleging significant damage.

The developments follow the death of Sheikh Saeed, a 36-year-old man from Kamareddy district in Telangana, on Tuesday, November 3. He succumbed to critical injuries sustained in the October 10 attack on the airport.

Fighting has also intensified between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in southwestern Yemen, particularly in Taiz province and areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen in March 2015, leading a coalition in support of the internationally recognised government after the Houthis seized Sanaa in September 2014.