Riyadh residents warned of ‘hostile aerial threat’ as Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missiles

Residents of Riyadh received a mobile phone alert early on Sunday warning of a hostile aerial threat, according to Middle East Eye. The alert, which instructed people to stay indoors and away from windows, was withdrawn shortly after being issued. Ajel English reported that the Saudi Civil Defense issued emergency alerts via the National Early Warning Platform for both Riyadh and Abha, providing safety instructions such as moving to interior rooms and avoiding balconies or rooftops.

Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki announced that two missiles fired by the Houthis toward Khamis Mushait, near the Yemeni border, were intercepted. Saudi civil defence stated that the danger had passed in both Khamis Mushait and the nearby city of Abha.

According to Gulf News, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all travel within 10km of the border with Yemen and suggests all but essential travel to the rest of Saudi Arabia. The FCDO noted that the Houthi movement has launched missiles and drones targeting various locations in the Kingdom since July 13, including airports, military facilities, and energy infrastructure.

Additionally, the FCDO has urged British nationals to stay away from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh following a serious incident on October 10, 2026.

Brief written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye, Ajel English, NDTV, Gulf News — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.