Saudi Arabia Issues Air Raid Alerts Amid Regional Tensions
The kingdom warned of a "hostile aerial threat," with alerts issued across the country, including the capital, Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia issued emergency air raid alerts across the kingdom late Friday and early Saturday, warning of a "hostile aerial threat." At least one explosion was heard in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, marking the first alert for the city since the latest escalation involving Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Saudi authorities did not immediately specify the cause of the alerts or the explosions, though the kingdom has previously reported intercepting Houthi missiles and drones. No casualties or damage were reported after the alerts were lifted.
The United Nations' Security Council stated late Friday that the Houthis' military escalation and attacks "risk further expanding the conflict, threatening maritime security and international trade," while also undermining peace efforts in Yemen. The council urged practical cooperation to prevent the Houthis from acquiring arms and other military support, emphasizing the need for all countries to enforce the UN arms embargo against the group.
In separate developments, Iran's state TV reported Saturday that a man identified as Hossein Pedram was executed after being convicted of spying for Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad. According to the report, Pedram allegedly passed classified information about sensitive military sites in Iran's Isfahan province to Israel. He was reportedly arrested following an air campaign by the U.S. and Israel against Iran last June, which targeted these sites, including missile bases.
Gaza's Health Ministry and Shifa Hospital officials reported that one man was killed in Gaza City's Shijaiyah neighborhood, and another man, identified as the son of the ministry's director general, was killed in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza. The Israeli military had not immediately responded to a request for comment on these strikes.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a phone call Saturday with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to discuss uninterrupted energy supplies and safe passage for commercial ships. Dar highlighted the potential impact of disruptions on developing countries and global supply chains. Pakistan has experienced rising energy prices amid increased regional tensions.
Iran's state TV also reported that the Tehran prosecutor's office filed charges against race organizers after women participated in a race without mandatory hair coverings, citing a violation of "legal and Islamic Sharia." The country's ruling theocracy requires women to wear headscarves and loose-fitting clothing.
In Turkey, the banking watchdog revoked the operating license for the Istanbul branch of Iran's Bank Mellat, citing the need to protect depositors and ensure the stability of Turkey's financial system. Bank Mellat has been subject to Western sanctions and was named in 2019 for alleged links to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. The U.S. Treasury Department recently imposed sanctions on a Turkish investment bank and two subsidiaries over alleged ties to Iran.