Saudi-led coalition intercepts two Houthi missiles fired toward Riyadh

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said on Sunday it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the Iran-aligned group toward Riyadh, after loud booms were heard in the Saudi capital, Reuters reported.

Saudi Civil Defense had issued an alert in the Riyadh region shortly before the booms, a Reuters witness said, in a Reuters report carried by ARY News. Authorities later announced that the risk of danger had passed. Reuters added that the coalition later said it intercepted and destroyed two cruise missiles in Riyadh and the southern region. Business Standard carried the same Reuters report.

The News.az website quoted coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki as saying in a statement posted on X: "Air defenses intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Houthi militia toward Riyadh". News.az said the announcement came hours after the coalition reported intercepting another ballistic missile launched by the Houthis toward Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province.

CGTN reported that an administrative building belonging to state oil giant Saudi Aramco in Riyadh was damaged by falling debris following an attempted attack, citing the kingdom's Energy Ministry. No injuries or fatalities were reported, according to CGTN. CGTN also said multiple witnesses told AFP that Riyadh's financial district had been targeted and that the area's Aramco tower was damaged.

Reuters said the latest incident came a day after Yemen's Houthi-run health ministry said Saudi airstrikes killed at least 33 people near Sanaa. Saudi authorities said they were investigating. According to Reuters, fighting between the sides has shattered a 2022 UN-brokered truce, and the Houthis have targeted Saudi airports, ports and oil facilities with missiles and drones since hostilities resumed in July, while Saudi Arabia has carried out airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

Background

Qatar Standard reported on September 26 that Israeli media, citing the Jerusalem Post, said the Saudi-led coalition had intercepted Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Riyadh and Khamis Mushait. The attacks were claimed by the Iran-aligned Ansar Allah movement, according to that report.

Earlier, Qatar Standard reported that Houthi forces fired missiles at Riyadh's airport, according to a report carried by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. That initial report did not give the number of missiles fired, whether any were intercepted, or the extent of any damage.