Saudi Arabia intercepts missiles and drones as Houthi fighting escalates

The Saudi-led coalition said Sunday that it had thwarted missile and drone strikes against Riyadh and the south of the kingdom as violence with Yemen’s Houthi rebels escalated.

Saudi state news agency SPA reported the missile intercepts came during an air defence interception of a ballistic missile and a drone launched towards Riyadh and a cruise missile directed towards the southwestern city of Khamis Mushait.

The coalition further said that 10 ballistic missiles targeting southern Saudi Arabia have also been intercepted and destroyed.

Two people were injured by falling debris from two intercepted missiles and three residential buildings and seven cars were damaged, said Saudi Civil Defence, reported Al Jazeera. The alert was raised for the cities of Riyadh, Abha and Khamis Mushait before the country’s civil defence announced that the danger had passed.

The interceptions took place after Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport re-opened for limited flights on Sunday after the attack earlier this month left 13 dead and more than 300 injured.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the airport remained a “military target” and called on airlines, airport workers and travellers not to use the facility.

The kingdom has launched an escalation of its military campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis after renewed fighting in Yemen broke a tenuous ceasefire that had mostly held since 2022.

The increased frequency of attacks has strained regional security and threatened vital shipping lanes and air routes.