Saudi civil defence says danger has passed in six cities including Yanbu - reuters.com

Saudi Arabia’s civil defence agency announced on Thursday that the immediate threat from recent Houthi‑launched attacks has passed in six key cities, including the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The agency said that after a coordinated response by emergency services, no further explosions or hazardous material releases were detected, allowing authorities to lift the heightened alert status that had been in place since the early‑morning strikes. Residents were urged to stay indoors and follow official instructions while security forces secured the affected areas, but officials confirmed that normalcy was returning to the impacted zones.

The attacks, which were part of a broader escalation by Yemen’s Iran‑aligned Houthi movement, struck multiple locations across the kingdom, injuring at least 13 civilians and prompting the Ministry of Interior to issue alerts for Yanbu, Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Al‑Kharj and Al‑Ula. Saudi officials warned that any future aggression would be met with a “firm” response, reiterating their commitment to protect critical infrastructure and civilian lives. The civil‑defence briefing noted that fire‑fighting units, medical teams and bomb‑disposal squads had successfully contained the incidents, preventing any large‑scale damage to the oil‑refining facilities and maritime installations that are vital to the nation’s economy.

The incidents also triggered diplomatic activity abroad. India’s Ministry of External Affairs pledged “full support and assistance” to its nationals injured in the attacks, while Pakistan engaged in damage‑control talks with Riyadh after earlier mixed signals about its stance on the Houthi conflict. Both countries emphasized the importance of regional stability and the need for coordinated security measures to safeguard citizens and commercial interests in the Kingdom. As Saudi Arabia assesses the aftermath, the episode underscores the lingering volatility of the Red Sea corridor and the broader geopolitical stakes tied to the Yemen war.