The Saudi-led coalition and Iran-backed Houthi militants exchanged strikes on Monday as violence escalated, impacting daily life in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, and across Yemen. The intensifying conflict has extended disruptions in the world’s largest crude oil exporter, with considerable security concerns prompting new restrictions in Riyadh.
Riyadh’s Kingdom Centre skyscraper issued a directive mandating remote work for all office tenants until further notice. While the order did not specify a reason, it follows a recent security alert and multiple drone interceptions over the capital amid a wave of Houthi attacks targeting Saudi sites in recent weeks. Educational institutions in Riyadh and neighboring areas have continued online classes for the second consecutive week, and King Khalid International Airport remains shut following a deadly attack last week that killed 13 people.
The Saudi-led coalition, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognized government, intensified air strikes against Houthi-controlled regions. According to the Houthi-run Saba news agency, a Saudi air raid in northern Yemen’s Saada governorate killed at least nine people and wounded 16 others. The coalition has not officially confirmed these casualties.
In a separate development near the Yemeni border in Najran, the coalition reported the death of two pilots after their helicopter crashed. The Houthis claimed responsibility, asserting they had shot down a Saudi Apache helicopter in the area. The coalition attributed the crash to a “technical malfunction” and noted it marked its first military fatalities since hostilities between the parties reignited in July.
The conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and the Iran-aligned Houthis, ongoing for more than a decade, has surged amid heightened regional tensions connected to the broader US-Iran standoff. Both sides continue to report regular attacks, contributing to instability in the region and ongoing challenges for civilians in affected areas.