RIYADH, Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia is facing questions over its public safety measures after its national early warning system reportedly stopped issuing alerts about imminent military attacks days before a series of strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed at least 18 people and injured more than 300.
The suspension of public alerts has raised concerns about the kingdom’s ability to protect civilians and visitors as attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement intensify. The Saudi government has not publicly explained why warnings were not issued before the four airport attacks reported over the past week, according to reporting published on October 12.
Saudi Arabia introduced mobile phone and social media alerts in May to warn residents of potential military threats. The last public alert before the airport strikes was issued on September 29 for Najran, a province in the kingdom’s south, according to records from the Saudi Civil Defence authority cited in news reports.
Officials from a Western government reportedly questioned Saudi authorities about the suspension before the attacks. According to accounts cited in the reporting, Saudi officials said the alerts had caused disruption, with some residents complaining about being awakened at night. Saudi authorities have not publicly confirmed this explanation.
The absence of warnings was particularly concerning because Western embassies in Riyadh had maintained internal alert systems for their personnel. However, those systems reportedly also failed to provide advance warning before the deadliest airport strike on October 10.
Saudi Civil Defence resumed issuing public threat alerts on October 12, warning of potential dangers in Riyadh and southern cities. It remains unclear whether the renewed alerts were a direct response to the airport attacks.
The strikes have intensified concerns over security in the Gulf amid the wider regional conflict involving Iran and the United States. The Guardian reported on October 12 that the attacks marked a serious escalation in Houthi operations against Saudi Arabia, which has supported Yemen’s internationally recognized government in its conflict with the movement.
The Houthis, who control Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, have fought a Saudi-led military coalition since 2015. A United Nations-brokered truce that took effect in April 2022 significantly reduced fighting, although it did not produce a comprehensive peace agreement.
The latest attacks have also raised concerns about civilian aviation and regional stability. The warning system controversy adds another challenge for Saudi Arabia as it seeks to maintain public confidence and protect its international standing during an increasingly dangerous security crisis.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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