Houthis Fire Ballistic Missile Toward Khamis Mushait and Two Drones Toward Riyadh — Saudi Coalition: All Were Shot Down

Air defense systems of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen have intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis, the Iran-backed Yemeni group, toward the city of Khamis Mushait, the coalition spokesman announced early Saturday in a post on X. The attack marks the continuation of the Houthi air offensive against Saudi territory amid the ongoing war between the U.S., Israel and Iran, in which the Houthis act as Tehran’s main regional allies.

Earlier in the night, the coalition had announced that air defenses had also intercepted and destroyed two drones fired by the Houthis toward the capital Riyadh. According to the coalition, all three projectiles were neutralized before reaching their targets, and no casualties or damage on the ground were reported.

The attacks come as the states of the Mecca Pact gathered this week in Riyadh to reaffirm their commitment to the collective defense of Saudi Arabia, and after Tehran’s threats of “widespread disruptions” in the region, Al Jazeera reported. The Houthis, who control the Yemeni capital Sanaa and the Red Sea coastline, have carried out continuous missile and drone attacks against Saudi and Israeli targets since the start of the U.S.–Iran war.

Saudi Arabia remains on high air alert; in recent days the coalition has reported multiple interceptions, as tensions continue to rise in the Persian Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz.