Saudi-led coalition says intercepted Houthi ballistic missile targeting Riyadh
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Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthis toward Riyadh, the coalition’s official spokesperson said early on Saturday.
In a statement posted on X, Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the coalition to support Yemen’s internationally-recognized government, said: “Air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia toward Riyadh.”
No further details on the timing, trajectory, or any debris were provided in the announcement.
The statement came after two explosions rang out in Riyadh early Saturday, according to AFP, and after the Saudi civil defence said an early warning system was activated to alert residents to a potential threat.
The interception is the latest in a series of claimed defensive actions by Saudi air defenses amid a sharp escalation in cross-border attacks.
In recent weeks, Houthi forces have repeatedly targeted sites in Saudi Arabia, including multiple strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport that caused deaths and injuries, as well as attacks on other airports, energy facilities, and cities.
The coalition has reported intercepting numerous ballistic missiles and drones during this period.
The Saudi-led coalition has been involved in Yemen’s conflict since 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government against the Houthis, who control large parts of the country including the capital Sanaa.
