{
  "id": 9920599,
  "title": "Saudi coalition says intercepted Houthi drones headed for Riyadh",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/saudi-coalition-says-intercepted-houthi-drones-headed-for-riyadh",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-26T05:43:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Times of Israel",
    "slug": "the-times-of-israel",
    "url": "https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-coalition-says-intercepted-houthi-drones-headed-for-riyadh/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Saudi-led coalition has intercepted drones and missiles launched by the Houthi rebels towards Saudi Arabia. According to the coalition, two drones headed for Riyadh and two ballistic missiles targeting the city of Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia were shot down. The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have been launching increasing attacks on Saudi cities and shipping, further heightening tensions in the Middle East.\n\nThe Houthis declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia in July and have been targeting Saudi vessels in the Red Sea. The attacks have targeted Saudi cities, energy infrastructure, and shipping, adding to pressures on global oil supplies. The Saudi civil defence had sent alerts overnight for Khamis Mushait and Abha but not for Riyadh.\n\nThe military chiefs of Saudi Arabia and defence allies Pakistan and Turkey reviewed threats facing Saudi Arabia at a meeting in the Saudi capital, having signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement last month. The agreement stated that they would regard an armed attack on any of them to be an attack on all. According to the United Nations, more than 122,000 people have been displaced by the escalation of conflict across Yemen, with 674 people dying and 2,998 injured between 6 August and 18 September.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "What France’s military deployment means for Saudi Arabia’s fight against Houthis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/what-frances-military-deployment-means-for-saudi-arabias-fight",
        "published": "2026-09-25T16:41:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Express Tribune - Pakistan",
        "title": "Pakistan, KSA, Turkiye military chiefs slam attack on Makkah",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/pakistan-ksa-turkiye-military-chiefs-slam-attack-on-makkah",
        "published": "2026-09-25T17:47:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Turkish parliament speaker: Mecca defense pact could expand to wider Islamic alliance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/turkish-parliament-speaker-mecca-defense-pact-could-expand-to-wider",
        "published": "2026-09-25T19:03:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Pakistani, Saudi, Turkish military chiefs meet to discuss ways to assist Riyadh under Makkah defence pact",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/pakistani-saudi-turkish-military-chiefs-meet-to-discuss-ways-to",
        "published": "2026-09-25T19:07:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arabian Business",
        "title": "Saudi Arabia intercepts 2 Houthi drones launched towards Riyadh",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/saudi-arabia-intercepts-2-houthi-drones-launched-towards-riyadh",
        "published": "2026-09-26T01:32:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye pledge closer defence cooperation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/pakistan-saudi-arabia-and-turkiye-pledge-closer-defence-cooperation",
        "published": "2026-09-26T05:22:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}