Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missile targeting Riyadh amid escalating tensions

In a retaliatory development, Saudi Arabia says it has intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels towards Riyadh, as mounting hostilities threaten the kingdom’s military and energy infrastructure.

Coalition spokesperson, Major-General Turki al-Maliki, announced the interception on Wednesday, following security alerts issued by Saudi Civil Defence in Riyadh and neighbouring Al-Kharj. Authorities subsequently confirmed that the immediate threat had passed.

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have claimed attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh, as well as King Khalid International Airport. Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry confirmed that an Aramco administrative building in Dhahran was hit.

The incident comes amid reports of further attacks on Saudi airports, including Abha, with casualties also recorded. Meanwhile, Saudi-backed forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government have launched a counteroffensive to recapture coastal territory near the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The latest escalation follows renewed clashes last month that disrupted a United Nations-brokered ceasefire, which had largely held since 2022.

The Houthis have controlled Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and other densely populated areas since 2014, forcing the internationally recognised government to relocate its base to the south. The protracted conflict has fuelled instability in Yemen and heightened regional tensions.

The Muslim World League has condemned the attacks, with its Secretary-General, Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, accusing the Houthis of targeting civilians and vital infrastructure.

Separately, Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah television reported four strikes in the Harib district of Marib, although the extent of the damage remained unclear.

Analyst Nawaf Obaid of King’s College London says air strikes are intensifying, but a full-scale ground offensive has yet to begin. He suggests the campaign could expand from targeting military and energy facilities to weakening Houthi control and reclaiming territory.

Such an operation could require specialised troops trained to navigate Yemen’s mountainous terrain, raising the prospect of a prolonged and more complex military confrontation.