Saudi Civil Defense Lifts Brief Threat Alerts for Jizan and Najran

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense issued brief threat alerts for the southwestern cities of Jizan and Najran on Saturday, warning residents of a “potential danger” before declaring the all-clear minutes later.

Authorities initially announced the alert for Najran via the social media platform X, urging the public to follow official instructions and avoid gathering or filming at the scene. A similar warning was issued earlier in the day for Jizan, which was also subsequently lifted.

The temporary alerts come amid a renewed military escalation in neighboring Yemen, where Houthi forces have continued missile and drone strikes targeting Saudi territory. Riyadh has led a coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government since 2015, opposing the Houthis, who have held the capital Sanaa and large swathes of the north since 2014.

The current flare-up began in July, shattering a period of relative calm that had held since a UN-brokered truce took effect in April 2022.

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