Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missiles, drones; group denies targeting Mecca

On Wednesday, Saudi air defenses successfully intercepted three Houthi cruise missiles launched towards Riyadh, marking the second consecutive day of such defenses intercepting Houthi missiles, according to the Saudi-led military coalition combating the Yemeni group. The coalition reported that the Houthis had launched three cruise missiles, which were destroyed.

The militia, which governs the majority of Yemen's populous regions, has escalated attacks on the Saudi capital in recent days. A Houthi assault on Sunday inflicted damage on an Aramco administrative building located in Riyadh's financial district. On Tuesday, Saudi air defenses neutralized a ballistic missile and a cruise missile aimed at Riyadh, the coalition declared.

In the previous month, a Houthi strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport resulted in 13 deaths and over 300 injuries. Escalations in fighting between the two sides have intensified since September, when the Houthis made advances towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping bottleneck at the southern end of the Red Sea.

In response, the Houthis have intensified strikes on Saudi airports, ports, and oil installations, while Saudi Arabia has intensified airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.