Saudi Arabia issued its first air raid alerts in the capital, Riyadh, since the Houthis, a Yemeni group backed by Iran, intensified their attacks in July. The alerts were issued late on Friday night and early Saturday morning (local time), with explosions reported in the capital. However, the Saudi Civil Defence later confirmed that the threat had passed and urged residents to avoid gathering in crowds. The alerts come amid an ongoing escalation in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who have recently taken control of the strategic port of Mokha and Perim Island—key points along a vital shipping route used by Saudi Arabia for exporting oil to Asia and Europe. The Houthis have declared a "maritime embargo" on Saudi Arabia, stating it is a response to the Saudi blockade of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled areas of north-western Yemen. This blockade has forced Saudi oil exports to rely on the Red Sea, a route that became more critical after the U.S.-Iran tensions closed the Strait of Hormuz. Last week, the Houthis attacked several Saudi oil facilities with drones and missiles, causing fires and temporarily halting operations. These attacks have disrupted global energy markets, leading to sharp increases in petrol and diesel prices around the world, adding to the economic strain caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockades. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of the country, has reportedly personally urged U.S. President Donald Trump to take military action against the Houthis, according to two sources familiar with the matter. However, Trump has not committed U.S. military forces to the region, instead offering intelligence and targeting assistance. A senior Trump administration official emphasized that the U.S. is in "continuous dialogue" with both Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government to ensure regional stability. Meanwhile, the Houthis have claimed their attacks on Saudi Arabia are in retaliation for over 450 air strikes launched by Saudi-led forces in the past week. The conflict has drawn international attention, with the United Nations Security Council holding an emergency meeting to address the crisis. Both the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia called for stronger action against the Houthis, who are accused of restricting navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical waterway in the Red Sea. Council members agreed that maintaining freedom of navigation is essential to prevent disruptions to global supply chains. The ongoing civil war in Yemen, which began in 2014 when the Houthis took control of the capital, Sanaa, has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and created one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with more than 22 million people requiring aid, according to the United Nations.