Saudi warning system stayed silent before deadly airport attacks
Saudi Arabia ceased issuing public warnings regarding military attacks shortly before a series of deadly strikes hit Riyadh airport. Analysts suggest the government's silence was an attempt to project stability, though it has raised concerns about the kingdom's vulnerability to regional conflict.
Why it matters
The lack of transparency regarding security threats highlights the tension between maintaining a facade of normalcy and ensuring public safety during active military conflicts.
RIYADH, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia stopped issuing public warnings of imminent military attacks days before a series of deadly strikes on Riyadh airport that killed at least 18 people and wounded more than 300.
The government has not said why there were no alerts to the public before the four Riyadh attacks in the past week.
The warnings had served to highlight the violence undermining the kingdom's efforts to project an image of calm to its people and the world during its war with Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis.
Their absence during the airport strikes raised questions about Saudi Arabia's vulnerability to attack and about its ability to protect residents and visitors, four Western and Arab officials in the region and political analysts told Reuters.
It also reflected efforts to maintain a sense of normalcy, they said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in