The Saudi-led coalition reported downing two missiles launched by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis on Saturday, as tensions between the two sides escalated. The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks targeting Saudi oil facilities, airports, and military bases, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and an Aramco facility in Yanbu. The coalition confirmed intercepting missiles aimed at Yanbu and Taif, with debris falling near Mecca and Medina, though the Houthis denied targeting the holy cities.
Yemen's Saudi-backed government accused the Houthis of firing three ballistic missiles at coast guard sites in Aden, causing damage. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree asserted that the group's operations focused on Saudi oil facilities and military bases, rejecting claims of attacks on Mecca and Medina. The renewed violence has shattered a 2022 UN-brokered truce, adding another front to the broader conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran.
Saudi Civil Defense issued alerts in Taif, Yanbu, Mecca, and Jeddah but later reported the threat had passed. The Houthis had previously warned airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, except over Mecca and Medina, as they intensified their attacks on the kingdom. The Saudi-led coalition did not immediately comment on the Houthi claims regarding military gatherings in Aden.