Coalition Intercepts Two Missiles Aimed at Riyadh as US Embassy Urges Airport Caution

"Air defences intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi terrorist militia toward Riyadh," coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said in a post on X. On Saturday he said two suspected Houthi drones "were intercepted and destroyed" in the Riyadh and southern regions.

Accounts of the drone interceptions differ. Reuters reported drones brought down over the Eastern Province, where The Economic Times said most of Saudi Arabia's oil reserves are located. The Economic Times put the number of drones at three.

At least 26 people have been killed in suspected Houthi drone and missile attacks in Saudi Arabia since September 23, according to Saudi authorities. The Houthis have repeatedly targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the East-West pipeline and oil infrastructure in eastern and southern Saudi Arabia. The Economic Times said recent attacks had damaged infrastructure, particularly affecting Saudi Aramco.

The US Embassy issued a nationwide security alert on Saturday urging Americans in the kingdom to exercise "heightened vigilance", citing an increased threat of Houthi attacks. It said attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia had "caused civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions" and warned that hostilities could spread "rapidly".

"Please take extreme caution if you choose to use airports in Saudi Arabia," the embassy said.

Fighting inside Yemen is also intensifying. The coalition, which backs Yemen's internationally recognised government, said it had intercepted several drones launched toward the city of Marib, where fighting has escalated. Yemeni army spokesman Colonel Majid al-Nuzaili said government forces had made gains against the Houthis in heavy fighting in the al-Hazm and Madghal districts of al-Jawf.

Al-Nuzaili said 321 Houthi leaders had been killed or wounded in 723 targeted operations by Saudi-backed forces in the Taiz, Lahij, Marib and al-Jawf governorates, and that 117 military vehicles used by the Iran-allied group had been destroyed. The coalition carried out at least 37 air strikes, 56 drone attacks and 541 artillery strikes, according to the same report.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the coalition had launched 72 air strikes on the Saada, Taiz, Lahij and al-Jawf governorates over the previous 24 hours. He said Houthi forces had fired ballistic missiles at Saudi-backed troops in the Kharaz area of Lahij governorate.

Houthi-affiliated media reported that two women and two children were injured by artillery fire from Saudi-backed forces in a residential neighbourhood of the Shuaub district of Sanaa, the Houthi-controlled capital.

More than 340,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Yemen since August, according to the International Organization for Migration.