The key facts

  • The coalition's air defenses intercepted 11 drones and a ballistic missile heading toward Najran
  • The day before, four people were killed in attacks in the Eastern Province, including casualties at an Aramco facility and Dammam airport
  • The escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has continued since July

Interceptions in several regions

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said on Thursday that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed 11 drones and one ballistic missile. According to coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki, the drones were shot down over Riyadh, Medina, the Eastern Province and the southern region, while the ballistic missile was intercepted on approach to Najran in the country's southwest. The statements were posted on the social media platform X.

Timeline of statements

In its latest statement on Thursday, the coalition reported intercepting two drones heading toward the southern region. Earlier, it reported four drones over Riyadh and Medina, one over Riyadh, and four over the Eastern Province. On Wednesday, the coalition intercepted seven drones: one was heading toward the southern region, and six were over Medina and the Eastern Province. The statements did not specify where the drones were launched from or whether the interceptions caused damage or casualties.

Casualties the day before

The reports came a day after Saudi authorities said four people were killed in attacks in the Eastern Province. Two died from falling debris after air defenses thwarted a drone attack on an Aramco oil facility; two more were killed in an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.

Conflict context

The escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has continued since July, against the backdrop of renewed fighting between the Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognized government. Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition in support of the Yemeni government since March 2015. The Houthis have controlled the capital, Sanaa, and other parts of Yemen since September 2014.