Saudi Arabia’s air defence systems intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched towards Riyadh on Thursday night, authorities said on Friday, with falling debris injuring one person and damaging a house and a vehicle.
The Saudi Civil Defence said the debris caused material damage and left one citizen injured. It added that standard emergency procedures had been implemented following the incident.
Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki confirmed the interception in a statement posted on X, saying air defences had destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by what he described as the Houthi militia.
Earlier, Saudi Civil Defence issued warnings about a potential threat in Riyadh, the nearby city of Kharj and the southern city of Najran. The alerts were lifted shortly afterwards.
The latest incident comes amid an escalation in attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement against Saudi targets, including strikes that have reportedly disrupted activity at Riyadh airport and forced its closure for two weeks. The disruption also led to the cancellation of major events, raising concerns about the impact on the kingdom’s efforts to diversify its economy and attract international investment.
Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have increased since a fragile truce dating from 2022 broke down in July. The collapse followed the Houthis’ decision to allow an Iranian aircraft to land in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in defiance of Saudi restrictions on Yemeni airspace, according to the account of events.
The incident was followed by a series of attacks. The Houthis subsequently announced a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia and began striking ships, Saudi territory and oil facilities. They also launched a rapid campaign that brought Yemen’s entire Red Sea coastline under their control.
The Houthis have also reported frequent Saudi airstrikes against targets in Yemen, reflecting the continuing military confrontation between the two sides.
Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since 2014, when Houthi forces seized the capital, Sanaa, and expanded their control over large parts of the country. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war in 2015 in support of Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
The latest missile interception highlights the continuing security risks facing Saudi Arabia as the conflict in Yemen remains unresolved. The injury and property damage reported in Riyadh also underline the potential consequences of missile attacks and interceptions for civilians and residential areas.
