Saudi coalition downs Houthi missile aimed at Riyadh
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile that was launched toward Riyadh. Saudi civil defence issued alerts for the capital and Al-Kharj governorate before saying the danger had passed. The Houthis claimed attacks on Aramco facilities and King Khalid airport, after recent strikes killed 14 people and injured hundreds.
Saudi coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said on X that a Houthi ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh was intercepted. Civil defence issued alerts for Al-Kharj governorate and the capital, then said the threat was over.
The Houthis claimed strikes on Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh and King Khalid airport; Saudi energy officials confirmed damage to an Aramco administrative building in Dhahran. Recent airport attacks killed 14 and injured over 300, while Abha airport strikes killed two. Saudi-backed Yemeni forces also began a counteroffensive near Bab al-Mandeb after a UN-brokered ceasefire collapsed last month.
Residents of Riyadh and Al-Kharj could face renewed anxiety and disruption, particularly around airports and energy facilities. Travelers, oil workers, and families of casualties may bear immediate burdens, while hospitals could come under strain. In Yemen, civilians near front lines and trade routes may see greater insecurity as fighting continues. The wider region could experience economic and humanitarian ripple effects, though the scale remains uncertain.