Houthi missile targets Riyadh as Saudi tensions escalate

RIYADH: (News Desk) – A ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement toward Riyadh was intercepted by Saudi air defences early Saturday, according to the Saudi-led coalition.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said on X that the missile was successfully destroyed before reaching the Saudi capital. He also accused the Houthis of attempting to target civilians and civilian infrastructure in Bisha, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu, saying the attacks were thwarted by Saudi air defences.

The reported missile launch came after a fire broke out at a fuel depot near Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. An AFP journalist at the scene saw firefighters extinguishing flames from a fuel tank bearing the logo of Saudi oil giant Aramco.

Footage verified by AFP showed a large column of black smoke rising above buildings near the airport. Saudi authorities had earlier issued an overnight air raid alert, while residents reported hearing several explosions across parts of Riyadh.

Flight-tracking website FlightRadar24 temporarily reported major disruption at King Khalid International Airport, placing the facility under its highest disruption index before air traffic gradually returned to normal.

The Houthis said their attacks were carried out in response to recent Saudi airstrikes. Military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had conducted two operations involving ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones.

According to Saree, one operation targeted what he described as sensitive sites in Riyadh, while the second targeted Aramco facilities in Yanbu.

The latest escalation comes as the Houthis continue an offensive in Yemen, capturing large areas and putting additional pressure on the internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has carried out numerous airstrikes against Houthi-held areas but has so far been unable to halt the group’s advance.

The incident has raised further concerns over the widening regional impact of the conflict. AFP reported that the reported strike on Riyadh comes amid the broader regional crisis following months of war involving the United States and Iran.

Residents in Riyadh described hearing air raid alarms and explosions during the early hours of Saturday. One resident told AFP that the warning and explosions caused windows to shake, while another described the incident as terrifying.

The development follows Saudi Arabia’s accusation earlier this week that the Houthis had targeted Mecca. Riyadh condemned the alleged incident, while the Houthis denied responsibility and dismissed the accusation.

The United States has also taken steps to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s air defence capabilities. The US State Department said Washington had approved the sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia in a deal worth $24.3 billion, describing the sale as intended to help Riyadh deter current and future threats.

Meanwhile, analysts cited by AFP warned that the confrontation could enter a prolonged cycle of escalation. Anna Jacobs of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington said both sides appeared caught in an escalation cycle, while negotiations remained the eventual route to ending the confrontation.

The United Nations said renewed fighting in Yemen had displaced more than 112,000 people, while nearly 3,000 others had crossed the sea to Djibouti.

Yemen’s war began in 2014 after the Houthis seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and other areas. Saudi Arabia launched a military intervention in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government.

A fragile truce reached in 2022 later collapsed, while the Houthis have continued strengthening their positions along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline. According to AFP, Houthi members said they were installing radar systems and digging tunnels in newly captured areas.