Riyadh: Saudi Arabia issued emergency warnings in Taif and other parts of the Kingdom on Friday night, September 11, and early Saturday, September 12, amid heightened regional tensions.
Alerts were reported in Taif Governorate in Makkah Province, as well as Khamis Mushait in the Asir region and Sharurah in Najran Province.
The National Early Warning Platform advised residents to remain calm, follow official instructions and move to safe locations until the danger had passed.
The guidance asked residents to shelter inside buildings, preferably in interior rooms away from windows. People outdoors were advised to enter the nearest building or take cover behind a solid barrier.
Authorities also urged residents to stay away from open areas, windows, glass, balconies and rooftops. They were told to avoid dangerous locations and gatherings and refrain from taking photographs or videos.
Drivers who received an alert were advised to pull over away from bridges and high-rise buildings.
Emergency services can be reached on 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 998 in the rest of the Kingdom.
Danger passes after warnings
Saudi Civil Defense later announced that the danger had passed in Taif, Khamis Mushait and Sharurah.
Residents were urged to continue following Civil Defense instructions and avoid gatherings and filming in the affected areas.
East-West Pipeline shut after attacks
The warnings came amid a separate security incident involving Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions.
The Ministry of Energy said the pipeline was subjected to multiple attacks on Thursday morning, September 10, prompting authorities to shut it down as a precautionary measure.
Several people were injured and received medical treatment, while emergency and specialised technical teams were deployed to secure the facility and assess its safety.
The ministry said further developments would be announced in due course.
Saudi Arabia condemns drone attacks
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attacks on the pipeline, saying several drones launched from Iraq were involved.
The ministry said Riyadh had chosen not to respond at this stage following a request from the Iraqi prime minister, who sought an opportunity for Baghdad to take measures to prevent attacks originating from Iraqi territory against Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries.
Saudi Arabia said it supported the Iraqi government’s efforts but reserved the right to take necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security, facilities, citizens and residents.
