By Nael Shyoukhi
RIYADH (Reuters) - Thousands of Saudis flocked to public celebrations across the country on Monday to mark national day, which featured a rare military parade and an air of heightened patriotism following last week's attack on the kingdom's energy industry.
As the conservative nation looks to open up, the annual festivities have expanded to include more elaborate music and art shows, in line with a broad reform agenda that has introduced once-taboo public entertainment and granted women more rights.
Nationalism, already on the rise under the powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, appeared amplified in the wake of Sept. 14 strikes on Saudi Aramco plants that knocked out more than half the oil production of the world's top exporter.
Riyadh and Washington have rejected a claim of responsibility by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis and instead blamed Tehran, which denies any involvement. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen's civil war in 2015 against the Houthis.
The military staged a parade with 2,000 troops in the southwestern city of Abha, whose civilian airport has been frequently targeted by Houthi drone and missile strikes. Saudi fighter jets and helicopters buzzed over paratroopers carrying the county's green and white flag.
In Jeddah and the capital Riyadh, fighter jets from the air force and an acrobatics team flew in formations. The five-day schedule includes musical concerts, fireworks and light shows, and a Cirque du Soleil performance.
"The celebrations today are a defeat for (our enemies). The people, the leadership and the army are all united as one," said Ziad Alyami, a folklore performer from Najran.
After the attacks, which the military failed to intercept despite spending billions of dollars on cutting-edge gear, Saudi officials insisted the country was capable of defending itself. The United States, its top ally, is sending troops and expediting the delivery of military equipment to bolster defences.
At a street festival in central Riyadh, Saudis said they were unfazed by the assault and hailed this year's celebrations as a show of resilience.
"This is a very strong message from us, the Saudi people, to the enemies of Saudi Arabia that we are all together. They will not stop us," said a woman named Basha'ir.
"We're not scared of anything," said Hassan Mahjoub Hashem. "Thank god we are safe and sound and despite all this we are out here celebrating with our heads held high."
In weekly prayers on Friday, state-sanctioned sermons underscored the need for citizens to "rally around the wise leadership" of the country, according to state news agency SPA.
Saudi national day marks the unification of the desert kingdom in 1932 by King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, Prince Mohammed's grandfather.
(Additional reporting by Stephen Kalin, writing by Eric Knecht; Editing by Dan Grebler)