Saudi-led coalition intercepts two Houthi missiles fired towards Riyadh

Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the Iran-aligned Houthi group towards the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Sunday. The loud booms were heard in the Riyadh region prior to the explosions, prompting Saudi Civil Defence to issue an alert in the area, according to a Reuters witness. Authorities later confirmed the threat had passed.

The coalition also reported intercepting and destroying two cruise missiles aimed at Riyadh and the southern region of Saudi Arabia. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the group carried out six operations involving ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, against targets in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. These attacks targeted Khalid International Airport and Aramco facilities in Riyadh, Khurais, and Pumping Station No. 8 in Dawadmi, as well as Saudi troops in Najran and in Yemen's Al-Jawf and Ma'rib provinces.

The renewed fighting has interrupted a UN-brokered truce that had held since 2022, following Saudi Arabia's 2015-led coalition intervention in Yemen to restore the internationally recognized government after the Houthis seized Sanaa. Since the conflict's resumption in July, the Houthis have targeted Saudi airports, ports, and oil facilities with missiles and drones, while Saudi Arabia has retaliated with airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

The latest incident occurred a day after Yemen's Houthi-run health ministry reported that Saudi airstrikes killed at least 33 people near Sanaa. Saudi authorities are investigating the reported strikes.