The key facts

  • Warnings were issued via the National Early Warning Platform for Najran and As-Sulayyil
  • Shortly afterward, the danger was declared over; the nature of the threat was not disclosed
  • The alerts come amid escalation between Riyadh and Yemen's Houthis

Warnings and Their Cancellation

Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense on Sunday issued danger warnings for the southwestern city of Najran and the As-Sulayyil governorate in the south-central part of the kingdom. The alerts were distributed via the National Early Warning Platform, and residents were urged to follow the instructions of the Civil Defense. A short time later, the agency declared the all-clear for both areas, saying the danger had passed, and urged residents to continue following safety instructions, as well as to avoid crowds and filming.

Unknown Nature of the Threat

The authorities did not disclose the nature of the threat that triggered the alerts, nor did they report whether any projectiles were intercepted. The Civil Defense also warned that 'filming, publishing or disseminating information related to countering missiles and drones and their impact sites entails legal liability.'

Context of Escalation

The alerts come amid escalation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi group, which has carried out missile and drone attacks on the kingdom. According to Anadolu, in recent days, amid the escalation, Saudi authorities have already issued a series of emergency warnings for southern and southwestern areas.