Coalition intercepts and destroys two Houthi drones targeting Riyadh

Yemen's Saudi-led coalition reported on Saturday morning that it had successfully intercepted two drones launched by the Iran-backed Houthis in an attempt to strike the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The coalition informed through a post on X that they were closely monitoring the missile threat and the drones approaching the kingdom, though they did not supply additional specifics.

The Saudi civil defense had issued alerts the night before for Khamis Mushait and Abha, but not for the capital city itself. The Houthis, who hold control over the most populous regions of Yemen and a significant portion of the north, have been conducting assaults on Saudi Arabia since proclaiming a naval blockade against Riyadh in July.

These attacks have not only targeted Saudi naval vessels in the Red Sea but also affected cities, energy facilities, and shipping, thereby intensifying pressures on the global oil supplies. The continuous warfare in the region, which includes the US-Israeli war on Iran, has made the Red Sea route for Gulf exports vulnerable. Moreover, the Strait of Hormuz remains largely obstructed, further complicating the situation.