The key facts

  • The coalition reported intercepting a Houthi ballistic missile heading toward Najran; no casualties or damage were reported.
  • The coalition rejected Houthi claims of Saudi threats against tribal and civilian gatherings in Yemen as baseless.
  • According to their spokesman Yahya Saree, the Houthis attacked targets in Riyadh, Dammam, Yanbu and Abha within 48 hours.

Missile intercepted near Najran

The Saudi-led coalition supporting the internationally recognized government of Yemen said on Thursday that it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen's Houthi group toward Najran in southwestern Saudi Arabia, near the border with Yemen. The interception was announced by coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki in a post on the X platform. No casualties or damage were immediately reported.

Response to Houthi claims

In a separate statement, the coalition rejected Houthi claims of Saudi threats against tribal and civilian gatherings in Yemen, calling them baseless and fabricated. According to the coalition, such statements are part of attempts to mislead public opinion, divert attention from the Houthis' actions and drag Yemeni tribes into the group's conflicts. The coalition stressed that the tribes remain part of Yemen's social and historical fabric and serve as a 'bridge of brotherhood' between the Saudi and Yemeni peoples, and it reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment to Yemen's security and stability.

Houthi statements and context

Earlier the same day, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had carried out four attacks with missiles and drones on targets in Saudi Arabia over the previous 48 hours, including Riyadh, Dammam, Yanbu and Abha. The incident comes amid an escalation between the Houthis and the coalition that resumed in July, with the sides exchanging strikes. Saudi Arabia has led a coalition in support of the Yemeni government against the Houthis since March 2015.