Schools in Riyadh shift to online classes for a week

Schools in the Saudi capital Riyadh are switching to online classes for a week following a last-minute decision announced to parents on Sunday.

The change comes amid heightened security concerns in the Gulf and a recent series of attacks targeting Saudi Arabia by Houthi fighters in Yemen.

Parents were informed by their children’s schools through emails that in-person classes would not take place during the week. Two messages reviewed by a wire service said that the schools had been told by Saudi authorities to remain closed.

No official explanation was given for the decision. The announcement followed a statement from the coalition fighting the Houthis that it had intercepted drones and ballistic missiles aimed at Saudi territory.

The Houthis have stepped up attacks since July, when renewed fighting ended a years-long truce in Yemen and brought the conflict into the broader regional crisis.

The UN Security Council has condemned the attacks against Saudi Arabia, saying previous strikes had injured civilians, including women and children.

The latest school decision comes as regional tensions remain elevated and Saudi authorities face continued security threats linked to the conflict in Yemen.