Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missiles targeting Riyadh and Eastern province
Air defenses operated by the Saudi-led coalition intercepted three ballistic missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi forces toward Saudi Arabia, according to coalition spokesperson Major-General Turki al-Maliki. Two missiles targeted the capital city of Riyadh, while a third was brought down over the kingdom’s Eastern province. The attempted strikes come amid a significant escalation in hostilities between the Iran-aligned group and Yemeni government forces, which initiated the Dawn of Yemen offensive to recapture lost territory, including the capital of Sanaa.
The missile interceptions coincide with deadly aerial bombardments reported inside Yemen. According to Houthi-run Health Ministry spokesperson Anees al-Asbahi, coalition air raids on the village of al-Shariyah in the Bani Hushaish district killed 33 people—including eight women and 13 children—and wounded 39 others, damaging homes and medical responders. Hostilities have surged after a 2022 ceasefire collapsed in July following a Houthi blockade on Saudi ports; United Nations records show more than 1,600 people have died and nearly 300,000 have been displaced since. The violence also includes a market attack in Taiz province that killed 30 people, alongside reported Houthi operations aimed at Aramco facilities, Riyadh airport, and military bases.
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