Saudi Arabia says intercepted Houthi missile targeting Riyadh as airport flights resume

Saudi Arabia's military coalition confirmed on Monday (Oct 26) that it had intercepted a ballistic missile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels, following the group's claim of an attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. The operation followed a series of explosions in the Saudi capital, during which authorities sent text messages to residents warning of a hostile aerial threat.

The Houthi group has carried out multiple strikes on the airport, the deadliest of which killed 13 people and wounded over 300 in recent months.

The coalition spokesman, Turki Al-Malki, stated that air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired toward Riyadh, and destroyed two missile launchers in Yemen's capital, Sanaa. Houthis, in response, claimed they successfully targeted the airport with a ballistic missile and struck oil pumping stations with drones. The Yemeni Armed Forces also reported two "qualitative military operations" targeting Saudi forces and weapons depots in Aden and Lahj governorates, resulting in dozens of casualties.

Houthis warned that Riyadh airport remained unsafe and a military target, urging airlines and travelers to avoid the facility. The kingdom resumed flight operations following the airport closure, which had forced the postponement of a major investment conference until 2027 and disrupted travel for thousands of passengers. The cancellation of events like the Dakar Rally further compounded the impact of the conflict on regional and global affairs.

The ongoing attacks on Saudi Arabia and its allies in Yemen mark a shift in the broader US-Iran war that began in February. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for discussions on the deployment of the Patriot air defense system in Saudi Arabia. Greece has since deployed a battery to operate the US-made Patriot system in Yanbu, a crucial oil export hub on the Red Sea coast.