At a Glance

• Schools across Riyadh will move to remote learning for one week.
• Parents received last-minute notifications about the change on Sunday.
• The decision comes amid heightened regional tensions and attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.
• Saudi authorities did not publicly provide a reason for the school closures.

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Schools across Riyadh will switch to remote learning for a week after Saudi authorities ordered schools to remain closed, according to messages sent to parents and seen by AFP.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• School Closure: “We have just been informed by Saudi authorities that schools must remain closed all week.” — Messages sent to parents.
• Parent Reaction: “It’s a last-minute decision. We have no clue what’s happening.” — Lebanese expatriate living in Riyadh.
• Focus Area: The decision comes amid heightened security tensions in the Gulf and a recent increase in attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.

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The messages sent to parents did not provide an official explanation for the decision. The announcement came a day after the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthi rebels said it had intercepted drones and ballistic missiles targeting the kingdom.

The attacks are part of a broader escalation involving the Houthis since July, when renewed fighting ended a years-long truce in Yemen and connected the conflict more closely to the wider war in the Middle East.

The decision has prompted questions among some families in the Saudi capital. One Riyadh parent said families should receive clearer information when decisions affect an entire school community for an extended period.

The United Nations Security Council has condemned the escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, noting that civilians, including women and children, have been wounded.

FYI

The Houthis, an Iran-aligned armed group that controls much of northern Yemen, have previously launched missiles and drones toward Saudi territory. The latest attacks have occurred amid a broader regional conflict involving several countries and armed groups.

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