Saudi coalition says intercepted 2 Houthi drones

RIYAHD: The Saudi-led coalition combating Yemen's Houthis announced on Saturday that it had intercepted two drones in the Riyadh region and the country's south, which were launched by the Iran-backed group. Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki stated via X, "two drones launched by the Houthi terrorist militia were intercepted and destroyed in the Riyadh and southern regions."

In recent weeks, the Houthis have targeted a variety of Saudi objectives, including airports, energy infrastructure, military sites, and Riyadh's financial district. They have frequently aimed their attacks at the Saudi capital, particularly its international airport. Last Sunday, a Houthi strike caused damage to a skyscraper belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco in Riyadh's financial district.

Since September 23, 26 individuals have lost their lives in attacks on the kingdom, with 23 incidents involving strikes on airports, according to official reports. In Yemen, the Houthis often claim responsibility for Saudi airstrikes in territories under their control. The Saudi coalition has been engaged in the conflict in support of Yemen's government for over a decade.

The Yemeni conflict began in 2014 when the Houthis took control of Sanaa, compelling the government to relocate to Aden. Following the collapse of a four-year truce this summer, over 1,600 people have been killed and more than 300,000 displaced, as per UN statistics.