Saudi Arabia confirms Yemen's Houthi rebels tried to attack its capital with ballistic missile

Saudi Arabia has confirmed that Yemen's Houthi rebels attempted to launch a ballistic missile at the capital, Riyadh, on Saturday. This marks the first time the capital has been targeted since the escalation of fighting with the Iran-backed rebels, which has opened a new front in the ongoing Iran war. The Saudi-led coalition, fighting the Houthis, stated that the missile attack was intercepted.

Witnesses in Riyadh reported hearing an explosion and observing a plume of smoke near the airport, but no casualties or damage were reported.

In addition to the attempt on Riyadh, the Houthi rebels allegedly targeted civilian infrastructure in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, where a crucial Saudi pipeline ends, as well as in the cities of Taif, Baysh, and Farasan. However, these attacks were also thwarted, according to the coalition statement. The Houthi group had earlier claimed, without any evidence, that they had targeted "sensitive sites" in Riyadh and facilities of Saudi oil giant Aramco in Yanbu, causing "massive fires." Aramco, the world's largest oil company, has not yet responded to a request for comment.

The growing conflict near Yanbu adds to the ongoing tension in the region, serving as another reminder of the complex and multifaceted nature of the Iran war.