Yemenupdated 1h ago2 min read
Saudi-Led Coalition Intercepts Houthi Missiles And Drones Over Riyadh, Khamis Mushait
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Saudi-led coalition intercepted drones and missiles over Riyadh and southern Saudi regions. Interceptions included a ballistic missile toward Riyadh and a cruise missile toward Khamis Mushait.
13 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Saudi Air Defenses Intercept Houthi Ballistic Missile Over Riyadh After Explosions →
Riyadh and Yemen hit
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it intercepted and destroyed drones and missiles over Riyadh and southern areas as fighting with Yemen’s Houthis continued. Coalition spokesman Major-General Turki al-Maliki said the coalition forces intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile launched towards Riyadh and a drone in the Riyadh region, with explosions ringing out in the Saudi capital. The coalition later reported the interception of 10 ballistic missiles fired towards southern Saudi Arabia, while Saudi civil defence authorities issued emergency alerts for Riyadh, Abha and Khamis Mushait before later saying the danger had passed.
The Houthis renewed their warning that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh remained unsafe and a military target, as the airport resumed operations at two terminals on Sunday after a halt following a Houthi attack earlier this month. The Houthis also claimed they launched seven missile and drone attacks targeting airports, oil facilities, and a military base in Saudi cities including Riyadh, Yanbu, Rabigh, Dammam, Najran and Khamis Mushait.
Airport warnings and operations
The Houthis warned airlines, airport staff and travellers not to use King Khalid airport in Riyadh, and the BBC quoted their spokesperson saying the airport remained a military target. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a drone in the Riyadh region, while the Saudi civil defence agency said debris from two intercepted missiles fell in the Mecca and Medina regions. The airport announced Terminal 1 would be reserved for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights operated by national carriers starting Sunday, and FlightRadar24 showed a passenger plane operated by Saudi Airlines departing for Jeddah.
The BBC reported that the Houthis renewed their threat to Riyadh airport at the same time as the coalition announced the interception and destruction of a drone and a ballistic missile in the Riyadh region. The Reuters account said Saudi authorities did not directly comment on the Houthis’ statements, while the Houthis said they attacked the airport and Saudi oil facilities on Saturday.
Taiz focus and escalation
In Yemen, the Houthis advanced on Jabal Sabr, the strategic mountain overlooking the city of Taiz, while the UN warned that “time is running out” to deliver aid to the 800,000 people trapped in the city. Yemen’s government forces, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, said they conducted more than 700 operations against Houthi targets on Saturday, claiming to have killed more than 300 fighters. The Al Jazeera account said the Houthis besieged Taiz and cut off the main road to Aden, which serves as the interim capital of Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
The Houthis also claimed their attacks were launched after what they described as 100 Saudi airstrikes on Houthi-held areas over the previous 24 hours, including Sanaa and the Red Sea port city of Mocha in Taiz province. The Reuters account said the renewed fighting shattered a ceasefire mediated by the United Nations that largely held since 2022, as Saudi Arabia intensified airstrikes after the Houthis seized strategic areas on the Red Sea coast last month.