Houthi Missile Intercepted Over Riyadh

The Saudi-led military coalition confirmed on Tuesday that the missile had been intercepted and destroyed before reaching its intended target.

“Air defences intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia towards Riyadh,” the coalition said in a statement posted on X.

Residents reported hearing several explosions, while emergency alerts sent to mobile phones instructed people to seek shelter because of an “aerial threat”.

Saudi Arabia’s civil defence agency subsequently announced that the danger had passed. The coalition also reported intercepting another ballistic missile targeting the kingdom’s southern region overnight.

The latest incident follows weeks of near-daily Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, following the collapse of a truce in July.

On Sunday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on Riyadh’s business district, where the headquarters of Saudi oil giant Aramco reportedly sustained damage.

Saudi authorities confirmed that the Aramco Tower suffered minor damage from falling shrapnel following what they described as an “attempted attack”.

Photographs released by the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday showed Riyadh’s deputy governor and other officials inspecting the building, with damage visible on several floors.

The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi oil infrastructure, including Aramco tankers, refineries, storage facilities and corporate buildings. In response, the Saudi-led coalition has continued airstrikes against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.

The Saudi-led coalition began its military intervention in Yemen in March 2015, months after Houthi forces seized Sanaa and forced the internationally recognised government from power.

The latest exchange of attacks signals continued hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, with renewed threats to civilian safety, critical infrastructure and regional security.