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The General Directorate of Civil Defense has lifted emergency alerts across several southern regions of Saudi Arabia after a series of brief warnings on Monday. Official notifications indicated that the all-clear was issued for the city of Abha as well as the provinces of Najran and Jazan, with additional cancellations for Khamis Mushait. The directorate emphasized that residents should continue to follow safety instructions and avoid gathering or filming in any affected zones. In case of emergency, the public was directed to call 998.
Alerts were activated through the National Early Warning Platform for Emergencies, which sends notifications directly to mobile devices. The warnings for potential danger were lifted within minutes in some cases, only for a second set of alerts to be issued and subsequently canceled for Abha and Khamis Mushait. The platform is also used for periodic tests to prepare the population for potential emergencies.
Reuters reported that the alerts coincided with an uptick in attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, who have targeted Saudi vessels in the Red Sea since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July. The group controls the most populous parts of Yemen and much of the north, according to the news agency. The warnings covered four cities in total, reflecting precautionary measures in the southern border areas.
The International Organization for Migration data from September 13 placed the number of displaced people in Yemen at 85,818, with the majority of recent displacements occurring in September amid the ongoing conflicts. This regional instability has prompted Saudi authorities to maintain heightened vigilance in vulnerable provinces. Civil defense operations form a critical component of the kingdom’s emergency response framework.
Similar alerts were lifted in July for Yanbu and Jazan, as documented in reports from Al Arabiya English, where all-clear messages followed shortly after initial warnings. The General Directorate of Civil Defense has conducted tests of the warning platform in various regions, including Makkah, Riyadh and Tabuk, to ensure public familiarity with the system. These exercises aim to improve readiness for real emergency situations across the kingdom.
Authorities have repeatedly stressed the importance of heeding official channels for information rather than relying on unverified sources during such events. The directorate’s Telegram channel and official X account serve as primary outlets for disseminating these updates to the population. Continued coordination with security agencies helps mitigate risks associated with cross-border threats.
