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The Saudi-led coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by the Houthi militia toward the capital Riyadh, according to its official spokesman. Major General Turki al-Malki stated in a post on X that forces neutralized the threat over the city on Tuesday. Saudi civil defence authorities had issued an early warning for potential danger in the capital before lifting the alert once the interception was confirmed.
This latest incident adds to a surge in Houthi attacks that have escalated since the group seized additional territory along Yemen’s Red Sea coast in a September offensive. Saudi civil defence has reported multiple rounds of debris from intercepted missiles wounding civilians in Riyadh, with one incident injuring an Arab national and damaging a house and vehicle. Regional assessments place the death toll from strikes on King Khalid International Airport and other sites at more than 20 over the past two weeks, prompting temporary airport closures and heightened security measures.
Separately on Monday, the joint forces command of the coalition warned against exploiting traditional maritime vessels such as za’imah, huri, jalbah and sanbuq to smuggle weapons, missiles and military equipment to the Houthis. The advisory urged all owners of such boats to refrain from cooperating with the militia in operations directed at Yemeni shores. Such activities pose a threat to Yemen’s security as well as regional and international stability while endangering civilian lives, the command stated.
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki has used the X platform to detail both aerial interceptions and maritime enforcement actions in recent days. The warnings form part of sustained efforts to cut off supply lines that officials say enable continued Houthi assaults on Saudi territory and shipping routes. United Nations monitoring has previously highlighted how Iranian-origin weapons have reached the group through sea corridors despite sanctions.
The Saudi-led coalition has supported Yemen’s internationally recognised government against the Iran-aligned Houthis since 2015, with the current flare-up tracing to renewed fighting that intensified in July. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea has claimed responsibility for strikes on Saudi airports and Aramco facilities, asserting direct hits in several cases this month. Saudi officials have countered that most projectiles are destroyed in flight with only limited collateral impact reported.
Civil defence alerts have become frequent in Riyadh, Abha, Yanbu and other areas as the group expands its range of targets to include oil infrastructure and civilian zones. The coalition has conducted retaliatory strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, including oil sites in the west of the country. Ongoing clashes around Taiz have seen government forces repel militant advances, inflicting heavy losses according to Yemeni military statements.
