Saudi civil defense authorities issued air raid alerts in the capital Riyadh and several other regions on Friday evening and Saturday morning local time, following reports of explosions in the capital. This marks the first such alert in Riyadh since the Houthis escalated attacks in July and announced a "maritime embargo" on Saudi Arabia. The Houthis recently gained control of the strategic port city of Mocha and Perim Island, which is a gateway to critical shipping routes for Gulf countries exporting to Asia and Europe. Last week, Houthi forces also used drones and missiles to attack multiple Saudi oil facilities, causing temporary operational disruptions, directly impacting global energy markets, and driving up oil prices.