Saudi Arabia intercepts two Houthi ballistic missiles aimed at Khamis Mushait

In the early hours of Sunday, 18 October, the Saudi-led military coalition intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis, the Islamic Republic's proxy group in Yemen. According to the coalition, one of the missiles was aimed at the city of Khamis Mushait in south-western Saudi Arabia, and a drone launched towards Riyadh was also intercepted.

Colonel Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognised government, announced the interceptions on X. Residents of Riyadh had earlier received a phone alert about a "hostile air threat", asking them to stay at home away from windows and doors; the alert was cancelled a few minutes later. As of publication, no casualties or damage have been reported, and the Houthis have made no comment on the attack.

Escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia

The attack came after several days of successive Houthi strikes. On Saturday the coalition had also reported intercepting four drones over Riyadh, the Eastern Province and southern Saudi Arabia, and on Friday the Houthis fired two missiles at Aden airport.

Saudi Arabia and its Yemeni allies say, based on their intelligence assessments, that IRGC officers in Yemen direct the targeting of the Houthi attacks. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has also asked his country's parliament to allow him to rush to Saudi Arabia's defence if Riyadh requests it. The Islamic Republic denies any role in the attacks.

This time the Houthis, allies of the Islamic Republic, targeted Khamis Mushait with a ballistic missile and Riyadh with a drone.