Saudi coalition ‘intercepts’ 3 Houthi ballistic missiles targeting Riyadh and Khamis Mushait

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen has announced that its forces intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi rebels towards Saudi Arabia, including one targeting the capital, Riyadh. The latest attack comes amid heightened tensions following strikes that have killed at least 14 people in recent days.

Coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki said in a statement posted on X that the Houthis launched one ballistic missile towards Riyadh and two others towards Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia. All three missiles were intercepted and destroyed, he said.

Residents of Riyadh reported several loud explosions on Monday night, shortly after receiving mobile phone alerts warning of an aerial threat.

The Houthis, who control Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and other densely populated areas, said their target in Riyadh was King Khalid International Airport. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree also claimed that the group had launched a drone towards a military airbase near Khamis Mushait, close to the Yemeni border.

Saree warned international airlines and travellers against operating flights to Saudi airports, except those serving the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, describing the facilities as unsafe.

The renewed attacks come as King Khalid International Airport remains closed following a Houthi strike on Saturday that reportedly killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300. Another attack on Sunday left one person dead and 11 injured.

Saudi authorities have announced that the airport will remain closed until Saturday, prompting airlines to cancel or suspend services. Houthi forces have also targeted Saudi oil facilities.

The conflict comes amid continued fighting between the Houthis and forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government. The Saudi-led coalition has conducted airstrikes against the rebels while supporting government forces on the ground. The conflict has intensified against the backdrop of wider regional tensions linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Speaking at an energy conference in Riyadh, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud said the recent attacks on airports had tested the kingdom’s resilience. He stressed that the government would maintain its economic development agenda, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 programme, despite the security challenges.

Meanwhile, Saudi authorities have launched an investigation into how the country’s air defence systems failed to prevent earlier attacks, according to two regional officials who spoke to The Associated Press anonymously. An initial inquiry suggested that the Houthis deployed several drones before launching a combination of cruise and ballistic missiles, some of which reached the airport.

The Houthis reportedly possess ballistic missiles capable of changing direction during flight, potentially complicating interception efforts by Saudi Arabia’s Patriot missile defence systems. Investigators are also examining why authorities did not issue earlier warnings about projectiles that travelled more than 1,000 kilometres to reach Riyadh.

US President Donald Trump criticised the Houthis over the attacks but did not indicate whether Washington would intervene. In response, Houthi political bureau member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti warned that any US involvement in military operations against Yemen would trigger a swift retaliation targeting American interests across the region.

Al-Bukhaiti also urged employees and workers at Saudi oil facilities and airports to stay away from those locations, warning that they had become targets.

The attacks have also raised concerns about major events scheduled to take place in Riyadh this month, including the kingdom’s flagship investment conference and the WPC Energy Congress, with several prominent oil executives reportedly removed from the programme.

Airlines have begun adjusting their operations in response to the deteriorating security situation. Etihad Airways announced the cancellation of flights to and from Riyadh until the following week and suspended services to Dammam and Jeddah. Bahrain’s Gulf Air also cancelled Riyadh flights until Saturday.

Meanwhile, US carrier Delta Air Lines announced that it would postpone the launch of its planned direct service between Atlanta and Riyadh, which had been scheduled to begin on October 23.