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Saudi-led Coalition Intercepts Houthi Missile in Riyadh
Confirmed
In Short: The Saudi-led coalition forces fighting Yemen’s Houthis said on Saturday that the Iran-backed group fired a ballistic missile at Riyadh, which was intercepted and destroyed by the coalition’s air defences.
According to coalition spokesperson Major-General Turki al-Maliki, the Houthis also attempted to target civilians and civilian infrastructure in Bisha, Taif, Farasan, and Yanbu, but these attacks were also thwarted.
This marks the first air raid alert sounded in Riyadh since an escalation in fighting with the Houthis in Yemen began in July.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed that the Houthis attacked “sensitive” sites in Riyadh and an Aramco oil facility in Yanbu, using cruise and ballistic missiles as well as drones.
Yasmeen al-Eryani, executive director for knowledge production at the Sana’a Center think tank, noted that the Houthis are determining the timelines and levels of escalation.
Meanwhile, on the ground in Yemen, the Saudi-backed government forces reported thwarting a Houthi infiltration attempt in the al-Fuliahan sector in southern Marib, killing 12 Houthi fighters and injuring others.
The army also reported that 13 Yemeni soldiers were killed in two days of clashes with Houthi forces in the southwestern provinces of Taiz and Lahj.
Al-Eryani added that military options against the Houthis are currently limited due to the mountainous terrain in which much of the fighting is taking place.
At least one explosion was heard in Riyadh, with residents near the airport reporting a large plume of black smoke later in the morning.
The coalition spokesperson affirmed the coalition command’s right to take “appropriate” action to deter the Houthis, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
According to an unconfirmed report from AFP news agency, fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces claimed 48 lives on Saturday, with 31 Houthi fighters and 17 government soldiers reportedly killed.
What this adds
The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Houthi missile aimed at Riyadh, marking the first air raid alert in the city since July.
The Houthis are locked in a civil war with Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia.
Residents heard explosions in Riyadh and major problems were reported at King Khalid International Airport.
Background
The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Houthi missile aimed at Riyadh, marking the first air raid alert in the city since July.
What's confirmed
- According to coalition spokesperson Major-General Turki al-Maliki, the Houthis also attempted to target civilians and civilian infrastructure in Bisha, Taif, Farasan, and Yanbu, but these attacks were also thwarted.
- This marks the first air raid alert sounded in Riyadh since an escalation in fighting with the Houthis in Yemen began in July.
- Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed that the Houthis attacked “sensitive” sites in Riyadh and an Aramco oil facility in Yanbu, using cruise and ballistic missiles as well as drones.
- Yasmeen al-Eryani, executive director for knowledge production at the Sana’a Center think tank, noted that the Houthis are determining the timelines and levels of escalation.
- Meanwhile, on the ground in Yemen, the Saudi-backed government forces reported thwarting a Houthi infiltration attempt in the al-Fuliahan sector in southern Marib, killing 12 Houthi fighters and injuring others.
- The army also reported that 13 Yemeni soldiers were killed in two days of clashes with Houthi forces in the southwestern provinces of Taiz and Lahj.
- Al-Eryani added that military options against the Houthis are currently limited due to the mountainous terrain in which much of the fighting is taking place.
- At least one explosion was heard in Riyadh, with residents near the airport reporting a large plume of black smoke later in the morning.
- The coalition spokesperson affirmed the coalition command’s right to take “appropriate” action to deter the Houthis, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
- According to an unconfirmed report from AFP news agency, fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces claimed 48 lives on Saturday, with 31 Houthi fighters and 17 government soldiers reportedly killed.
What's still developing
- Saudi-led coalition forces fighting Yemen’s Houthis have said that the Iran-backed group fired a ballistic missile at Riyadh at dawn before it was intercepted and destroyed.
- Saudi authorities said they intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired at Riyadh on Saturday, without confirming any further strikes or causalities.
- "Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including civilian airports. This military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly," it said in a statement.
- Air defences also stopped "hostile attempts to target civilians" in the cities of Bish, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu, an official spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition said in a statement.
- A number of apparent explosions were heard in Riyadh and major problems were reported at King Khalid International Airport earlier on Saturday, with the tracking website FlightRadar24 reporting delays and cancellations.
- The group said the naval blockade was in retaliation for a Saudi blockade of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled north-western Yemen.
- The bank said it "assumed" there would be economic red lines, like oil at $100 a barrel, that the US would be unwilling the cross. Saudi Arabia has lobbied the US for years to buy F35s, the world's most advanced fighter jet. BBC Verify explains how we found the wreckage location of a Saudi F-15 fighter jet which the Iran-backed Houthi group says it shot down over Yemen. The Houthis deny targeting the Islamic holy city after the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen accuses them of a "disgraceful act".
- Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen say they carried out drone and ballistic missile attacks on the Saudi capital Riyadh, as well as energy sites on the country's Red Sea coast.
- The Houthis are locked in a civil war with Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia.
- Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi terrorist organization launched a ballistic missile toward the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday, as part of a broader wave of attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.
- The Saudi-led coalition confirmed that a Houthi ballistic missile had been fired toward Riyadh at dawn and said Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed it.
- Earlier Saturday, Saudi Civil Defense issued aerial threat warnings in Riyadh and Al-Kharj, southeast of the capital, before later announcing that the danger had passed.