GCC Chief Condemns Houthi Missile and Drone Attacks on Riyadh and Khamis Mushait

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Mohammed al-Budaiwi, has strongly condemned the recent ballistic missile and drone attacks launched by the Houthis against the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and the southern city of Khamis Mushait, as Al Jazeera‘s live war blog reports.

Al-Budaiwi reaffirmed the GCC’s full support for the Kingdom and its right to take “all measures” to protect its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. He called on the international community to take a firm stance in holding the Houthis accountable for their actions.

Earlier, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen announced that air defense systems had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile headed for Khamis Mushait, as well as two drones headed for the Riyadh region. The coalition spokesman confirmed the interception in a post on X early Saturday.

The attacks mark the latest escalation in the confrontation between the Iran-backed Houthis and the Saudi coalition, at a time when the group has expanded its control along the Red Sea coast and repeatedly struck targets inside Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has warned it will respond to the attacks “with resolve.”