The key facts

  • Explosions were heard in Riyadh after an alert about a potential threat
  • The coalition reported intercepting a Houthi ballistic missile heading toward the capital
  • Civil Defense announced the danger had passed; no casualties or damage were reported

Alert and explosions in the capital

Explosions were heard in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Tuesday after the National Early Warning Platform issued an alert about a potential threat. Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense announced on the social network X that the alert had been issued for the city of Riyadh and urged residents to follow safety instructions. After the alert, reports of explosions in the capital came in. No official information about the cause of the explosions, possible casualties or damage was immediately available.

Missile interception

The Saudi-led coalition said on Tuesday that it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen's Houthi group toward Riyadh. According to coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki, the missile was shot down and destroyed. Later, Civil Defense announced that the danger in Riyadh had passed, urging residents to continue following safety instructions, avoid crowds and filming.

Context of the conflict

The incident comes amid an escalation of confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthis, who carry out missile and drone strikes against the kingdom, while the Riyadh-led coalition conducts airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition in support of Yemen's internationally recognized government against the Houthis since March 2015. The Houthis have controlled the capital Sanaa and a number of provinces since September 2014.