Saudi Arabia intercepts missiles, drones as fighting with Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis continues

Saudi Arabia intercepted drones and missiles over Riyadh and southern areas on Sunday, as the Saudi-led coalition reported attacks from Iran-backed Houthi terrorists. The Houthis claimed responsibility for targeting the airport and oil facilities, while Saudi authorities did not comment directly on the statements.

Saudi Arabia intercepted drones and missiles over its capital, Riyadh, and southern areas on Sunday, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said, as fighting with the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists persisted. The conflict has become an increasingly destabilizing front following the US-Israeli offensive against Iran, turning US ally Saudi Arabia into a pressure point in the wider war. On Sunday, Saudi civil defense authorities issued emergency alerts for Riyadh, Abha and Khamis Mushait, before announcing minutes later that the danger had passed. The coalition said two drones and a ballistic missile were launched towards Riyadh, and a cruise missile towards the southern city of Khamis Mushait. It later said it intercepted ten ballistic missiles fired towards southern Saudi Arabia. The Houthis warned they could again target Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, which resumed operations at two terminals on Sunday after a deadly attack earlier this month. The Houthis said they attacked the airport and Saudi oil facilities on Saturday. Saudi authorities did not comment directly on the Houthi statements. The article frames the Houthis as 'Iran-backed terrorists' in the narrative voice, a loaded label that survives attribution checks.