Saudi Arabia Intercepts Houthi Ballistic Missile Targeting Riyadh
Rebels claim attacks on multiple Saudi cities, including oil facilities, but coalition says all were thwarted.
Saudi Arabia confirmed on Saturday that Yemen's Houthi rebels attempted to strike its capital with a ballistic missile. The Saudi-led coalition stated that the missile, launched at dawn, was intercepted and that there were no reports of casualties or damage.
Residents in Riyadh reported hearing an explosion, and some observed a plume of smoke near the airport following the incident. The coalition also reported thwarting Houthi attempts to attack civilian infrastructure in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, as well as in Taif, Baysh, and Farasan.
The Houthi military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating they used cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones targeting "sensitive sites" in Riyadh and facilities belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco in Yanbu, alleging that the strikes caused "massive fires." Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This marks the first reported targeting of Riyadh since the recent escalation in fighting between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition. The conflict has intensified in recent days, with the Houthis capturing the port city of Mokha and islands on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait along Yemen's Red Sea coast.
On Thursday, the Saudi civil defense reported the first civilian casualty in the recent hostilities, stating that debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed a Yemeni resident in Saudi Arabia. The previous Wednesday, Saudi Arabia announced it had intercepted a drone near Mecca, Islam's holiest city, an accusation the Houthis denied.
Regional officials have indicated that Saudi Arabia is experiencing shortages of missile interceptors and has sought air defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt. The United States, a close ally of Saudi Arabia, has stated it does not currently have a conflict with the Houthis. The ongoing fighting in Yemen has disrupted the region, impacting global shipping corridors and contributing to market pressures.