Saudi Arabia Intercepts Houthi Missiles Aimed at Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s air defences intercepted and destroyed nine missiles and drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi group towards several regions of the kingdom between Wednesday and Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition said. The attacks targeted Riyadh, Makkah and other regions, and debris from intercepted ballistic missiles fell on a village in the Makkah region.
What was intercepted
The Saudi-led coalition said on Wednesday evening that its air defences had intercepted and destroyed three cruise missiles launched towards the Riyadh region, two drones aimed at Makkah and the southern areas, and two more missiles directed towards the west. A further announcement on Thursday morning confirmed the interception of a drone in the Riyadh region, and the Saudi Gazette reported that the total across Wednesday and Thursday reached nine projectiles: two ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones.
Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Malki said the interceptions marked the second consecutive day that Saudi defences had stopped missiles aimed at the capital. A day earlier, on Tuesday, air defences had brought down one ballistic missile and one cruise missile heading for Riyadh.
Debris falls in Makkah region
Saudi Civil Defense said on Thursday that debris from two intercepted ballistic missiles fell at several locations in the Makkah region, most of it in the village of Sabuha. The Civil Defense described the attack as a violation of international humanitarian law. No casualties or damage from the debris were reported in the coalition’s statements.
Houthis deny targeting Makkah
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree denied that the group had targeted Makkah with a drone, saying its operations target oil facilities and military bases. He said the group had attacked a pumping station in the Yanbu region with a drone and fired three cruise missiles at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, have intensified strikes on Saudi targets in recent days, and hostilities between the group and the kingdom have worsened since September. The Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Yemeni group in support of Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
What happens next
The back-to-back missile and drone attacks have put Saudi Arabia on high alert, with air defences on watch for further launches. The Houthis have warned of more attacks, while the coalition says its defences remain ready. The escalation adds to regional tensions at a time when the United States and Iran are also in a standoff over Iran’s missile programme and the Strait of Hormuz.
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Source: Reuters via The Express Tribune and NDTV, Saudi Gazette, Dawn — 12 November 2026