The key facts

  • Two ballistic missiles heading toward Khamis Mushait were intercepted, Turki al-Malki said
  • Earlier in the day, the coalition reported intercepting four drones in several regions
  • Civil Defense issued hazard alerts in Riyadh, Abha and Khamis Mushait

Missile interception over the country's southwest

The Saudi-led coalition announced overnight into Sunday that it had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthi group toward the city of Khamis Mushait in the kingdom's southwest. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki announced the interceptions in a statement on the social media platform X.

Civil Defense alerts

Shortly before the coalition's announcement, Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense, through the national early warning system, issued warnings of a 'potential danger' in the capital Riyadh, as well as in the southwestern cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait. The agency later reported that the danger had passed.

Drones and strikes on launchers

The day before, on Saturday, al-Malki said coalition forces had intercepted and destroyed four drones over several hours above the Riyadh region, the Eastern Province and the south of the country. The coalition also released footage which, it said, shows strikes that destroyed two ballistic missile launchers in Saada in northern Yemen after they had been used to shell Saudi Arabia.

Conflict context

According to Anadolu, the events come against the backdrop of an escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis that has continued since July, including attacks on the kingdom's civil aviation facilities and energy infrastructure. Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition since March 2015 in support of Yemen's internationally recognized government against the Houthis, who have controlled the capital Sanaa and a number of other provinces since September 2014.