Saudi-led coalition shoots down Houthi ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh
The Saudi-led coalition said it shot down a Houthi ballistic missile fired toward Riyadh on Wednesday. Danger warnings for the city and nearby Al-Kharj were later lifted, Saudi officials said. The Houthis vowed more attacks on Saudi airports and oil sites, Reuters reported via Al-Monitor.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said Wednesday that it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile launched toward Riyadh, Al Jazeera, Anadolu Agency and Arab News reported.
Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki announced the interception in a post on X, Al Jazeera and Anadolu said. Arab News said he made the announcement in a social media post.
Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense had issued warnings for Riyadh and the nearby Al-Kharj governorate through its national early warning platform, Al Jazeera and Arab News reported. The agency later said the danger had passed, Anadolu reported.
Witnesses heard the sound of four explosions in Riyadh after the warning, Anadolu reported. Reuters, via Al-Monitor, said several loud booms were heard in the capital and that it was not immediately clear what caused them.
Earlier, debris from two intercepted cruise missiles fell in Riyadh on Tuesday, injuring four people and damaging 15 houses, Anadolu and Arab News reported, citing Saudi authorities.
The Houthis said Wednesday they launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones at Saudi Aramco sites in Dhahran, an Aramco refinery in Riyadh and Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, Al Jazeera and Reuters reported.
The Houthis vowed to keep attacking airports and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported via Al-Monitor. They urged "international shipping companies," civilians and workers to evacuate Saudi airports and oil facilities, Reuters said.
Authorities have closed Riyadh's airport until Oct. 17, and airlines have canceled flights to Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported. The airport has been attacked four times, Reuters said.
Reuters said Saturday's attack on the airport killed 13 people. Al Jazeera, counting both weekend strikes, put the toll at 14 dead and more than 300 wounded.
Saudi Arabia has led a coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognized government against the Houthis since 2015, Anadolu reported. The current escalation began in July after a 2022 truce collapsed, Anadolu said.
What we know: The coalition says it destroyed a ballistic missile fired at Riyadh, and alerts were lifted.
What we don't: Whether the airport will reopen on schedule.
Where outlets agree Al Jazeera, Anadolu Agency and Arab News all report that coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said a Houthi ballistic missile fired toward Riyadh was intercepted.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.