Voice of Urdu – International News in English & Urdu

Saudi Arabia Intercepts Houthi Missiles and Drones Across Kingdom — AI-generated representative image: A missile defense system intercepts an incoming projectile over a Saudi Arabian city skyline at night.

Editorial Team

Coalition air defences down ballistic missiles targeting Riyadh as US Embassy issues nationwide security alert

Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted two ballistic missiles and five drones launched by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi group toward multiple parts of Saudi Arabia, the coalition's spokesperson said on Sunday.

Turki al-Maliki confirmed air defences destroyed two missiles targeting Riyadh, shot down three drones in the Eastern region, and intercepted two additional drones in Riyadh and southern areas a day earlier.

The interceptions mark the latest escalation in a cross-border conflict that has killed at least 26 people in Saudi Arabia since September 23 and displaced more than 340,000 people in Yemen since August, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The renewed hostilities have prompted the US Embassy in Riyadh to warn American citizens of an increased threat of Houthi attacks on airports and critical infrastructure across the kingdom.

Interceptions and Counterclaims

The coalition reported intercepting two suspected Houthi drones in the Riyadh and southern regions on Saturday, followed by the destruction of two ballistic missiles near Riyadh and three drones in the Eastern region on Sunday.

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, claimed to have shot down a Saudi coalition reconnaissance aircraft over al-Jawf. Military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group repelled Saudi military formations using Yemeni-made surface-to-air missiles, calling it the fifth coalition aircraft downed since the current escalation began.

Yemeni army spokesman Colonel Majid al-Nuzaili said government forces made gains in the al-Hazm and Madghal districts of al-Jawf amid heavy fighting that also intensified around the city of Marib.

Background of the Conflict

The Saudi-led coalition has supported Yemen's internationally recognised government against the Houthis since 2015, when the rebel group seized control of the capital Sanaa. The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, the East-West pipeline, and oil infrastructure in eastern and southern Saudi Arabia.

Since September 23, at least 26 people have been killed in suspected Houthi drone and missile attacks inside Saudi Arabia, according to the kingdom's authorities. The fighting has also driven more than 340,000 people from their homes in Yemen since August, the International Organization for Migration reported.

Casualty Figures and Military Operations

Colonel al-Nuzaili reported that 321 Houthi leaders were killed or wounded in 723 targeted operations by Saudi-backed forces across the Taiz, Lahij, Marib and al-Jawf governorates, with 117 military vehicles destroyed. The coalition carried out at least 37 air strikes, 56 drone attacks, and 541 artillery strikes.

Houthi spokesman Saree countered that the coalition had launched 72 air strikes against Houthi positions in the Saada, Taiz, Lahij and al-Jawf governorates over the preceding 24 hours. Houthi-affiliated media reported that two women and two children were injured by artillery shelling in a residential neighbourhood of Sanaa's Shuaub district.

Current Status and Security Advisory

The US Embassy in Riyadh issued a nationwide security alert on Saturday urging Americans in Saudi Arabia to exercise heightened vigilance, warning that hostilities could spread rapidly and that Houthi attacks on airports and critical infrastructure had caused civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions.

The embassy advised US citizens to take extreme caution if using airports in the kingdom. Further official confirmation on the full scope of the weekend's interceptions and any additional coalition or Houthi operations remains pending.