Saudi Arabia Reports Intercepted Houthi Missile Amid Regional Escalation
Saudi Arabia said its forces intercepted a ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels toward Riyadh on Saturday, marking the first reported attempt to strike the capital since fighting between the Saudi-led coalition and the Iran-backed group recently intensified.
Residents reported hearing an explosion around dawn, while a plume of smoke was later visible near King Khalid International Airport. Saudi authorities reported no casualties or damage. The coalition also said attempted attacks on civilian infrastructure in Yanbu, Taif, Baysh and Farasan were prevented, but provided few additional details.
The Houthis claimed they had struck sensitive locations in Riyadh and facilities belonging to state oil company Aramco in Yanbu, causing major fires. They said cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and drones were used. Those claims were not independently verified, and Aramco did not immediately comment.
The attempted strikes follow several days of escalating exchanges. Saudi Arabia said debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed a Yemeni resident on Thursday, the first reported civilian death in the renewed confrontation. A day earlier, Saudi officials accused the Houthis of attempting a drone attack on Mecca, an allegation the group denied.
Meanwhile, ground fighting inside Yemen has intensified between Houthi forces and the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government. Houthi fighters recently seized Mokha and islands near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, increasing their ability to monitor traffic through a major global shipping route. The group says it is targeting only Saudi vessels.
The conflict is placing additional pressure on regional security and international markets. The United States has indicated it is not currently engaged in hostilities with the Houthis. Regional officials also said Saudi Arabia has sought air defence assistance from several countries amid concerns about its supply of missile interceptors.
Renewed fighting ends four years of relative calm in Yemen and raises risks for energy and shipping.