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Saudi Coalition Intercepts Three Houthi Missiles Targeting Riyadh — AI-generated representative image: A missile interception flash and smoke trail over the Riyadh skyline, illustrating reported Houthi missile attacks on Saudi c

Editorial Team

Debris from intercepted missiles damaged a Riyadh kindergarten as airlines suspended flights and fighting intensified across Yemen.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting on behalf of Yemen's internationally recognised government says it intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles allegedly fired by the Houthis towards Saudi cities on Thursday. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said two missiles were heading towards the capital Riyadh and one towards Khamis Mushait, near the Yemeni border.

The strikes mark a sharp escalation in Houthi attacks on Saudi territory, coming days after strikes on two Saudi airports killed at least three civilians and injured 36 others. The attacks have disrupted international air travel and prompted aviation warnings, while intensifying ground fighting inside Yemen has displaced more than 200,000 people in recent weeks.

Missile Interceptions and Civilian Impact

Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency said falling debris from an intercepted missile caused material damage to a kindergarten and medical clinic complex in Riyadh. The agency did not indicate whether there were any casualties.

Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesman, said the Iran-aligned group launched a ballistic missile towards King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday afternoon, claiming it successfully struck the target, causing damage and disrupting air traffic. Witnesses told The Associated Press they heard several explosions in Riyadh, including one at the airport that halted flights. These reports could not be independently confirmed.

Recent Attacks and Airspace Warnings

The Houthis have warned aviation companies in recent days to avoid Saudi airspace, saying any aircraft operating there, except over the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, is a target. Following the latest reports, Air India cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until at least the weekend, while Germany-based Lufthansa Group suspended flights to Riyadh through October 16.

These were not the first Houthi strikes on Saudi airports. Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport were targeted in two separate attacks claimed by the Houthis on Tuesday and Wednesday, killing at least three civilians and injuring 36, according to the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation. On September 18, coalition forces intercepted a suspected Houthi missile fired towards Riyadh's airport, and a day later an explosion and plume of black smoke were reported near a fuel storage area at King Khalid International Airport.

Official Reactions and Ground Fighting

Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attacks on the two airports, describing them as a grave violation of the kingdom's sovereignty and a direct threat to regional security and the safety of civilians and air navigation.

Inside Yemen, explosions were reported near the airport in the Houthi-controlled Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, though the cause and impact remain unclear. Intense fighting is raging between pro-government forces and the Houthis in al-Shamayatayn, al-Maafer and the southern and western countryside of Taiz governorate. Pro-government forces have reported more than 2,000 operations against the Houthis and are preparing for what has been described as a dangerous escalation.

Humanitarian Toll and Next Steps

More than 200,000 people have been displaced from their homes since fighting escalated in recent weeks, according to the International Organization for Migration. The agency described the crisis as alarming, with displacement figures surging from 76,000 recorded in mid-September.

Authorities have not yet indicated whether the intercepted missiles caused casualties, and the cause of the Hodeidah explosions remains under investigation. Additional information on the security situation and flight suspensions is awaited.