RIYADH, September 20: Yemen’s Houthi movement has claimed missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, including what it described as sensitive targets in Riyadh and facilities belonging to Saudi Aramco in Yanbu. Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile targeting Riyadh, with no casualties or damage reported from the intercepted missile.
Saudi Arabia Says Missile Targeting Riyadh Was Intercepted
The Saudi-led coalition said a ballistic missile fired toward the capital was successfully intercepted on Saturday.
Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said the missile was destroyed in the air under existing rules of engagement and did not cause damage.
Saudi authorities also said attempted attacks targeting civilian infrastructure in Yanbu, Taif, Baysh and Farasan were thwarted.
Houthis Claim Missile and Drone Operations
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group carried out two major operations involving ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones.
According to the Houthis, one operation targeted what they called “sensitive sites” in Riyadh, while a second targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu. The group claimed the attacks caused major fires, but those claims were not independently verified.
Saudi authorities have not accepted the Houthis’ account of the impact of the strikes.
Smoke Seen Near Riyadh Airport
Residents in Riyadh reported hearing explosions during the overnight alerts.
Images and video showed a large plume of black smoke and flames near King Khalid International Airport, close to what appeared to be fuel-storage facilities. However, the exact cause of the fire had not been independently established at the time of reporting.
Saudi authorities said there were no reported casualties or damage from the ballistic missile intercepted over Riyadh.
Emergency Alerts Issued in Riyadh and Al-Kharj
Saudi Civil Defense sent emergency alerts to residents of Riyadh and nearby Al-Kharj, warning of a hostile aerial threat.
Residents were advised to remain indoors, stay away from windows and follow official safety instructions. Authorities later issued an all-clear after the immediate threat had passed.
The alerts were among the most significant issued in the Saudi capital since the latest escalation with the Houthis began.
Houthis Say Strikes Were Retaliation
The Houthis said the attacks were launched in response to what they described as continued Saudi airstrikes against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
The group accused Saudi fighter jets of conducting hundreds of strikes, though the figures provided by the Houthis could not be independently verified.
Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the Houthis’ description of the scale of those air operations.
Regional Countries Condemn Riyadh Attack
Several governments and organisations condemned the attempted strike on Riyadh.
Kuwait, Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan and Lebanon, along with the Gulf Cooperation Council and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, issued statements condemning attacks targeting Saudi territory and civilian infrastructure.
The statements expressed concern that the escalation could further destabilise the region.
Fighting Intensifies Around Red Sea
The attacks come amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces.
The Houthis have made territorial gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including around the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait, increasing concerns over international shipping and energy routes.
The Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is one of the world’s key maritime trade routes.
Civilian Casualties Reported in Earlier Attacks
The latest escalation follows several recent attacks inside Saudi Arabia.
On Thursday, Saudi authorities said debris from an intercepted Houthi drone fell in Taif, killing a Yemeni resident and injuring a Saudi woman and a Pakistani national. Buildings and vehicles were also damaged.
Earlier attacks in southern Saudi Arabia have also caused civilian injuries and damage to energy infrastructure.
Saudi authorities said they remain prepared to take measures to deter further attacks as missile and drone threats continue across the kingdom.
source – Associated Press / Arab News / India Today
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