Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted Houthi ballistic missiles fired toward Riyadh, Taif and Yanbu
The interceptions came hours apart Friday night and Saturday morning, according to the Saudi Press Agency. There was no official word on damage.
As of 3:43 p.m. ET, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles that it said Yemen's Houthis fired toward the Saudi cities of Taif and Yanbu on Saturday, hours after it reported intercepting one aimed at Riyadh, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.
"Coalition: Two Ballistic Missiles Launched by Terrorist Houthi Militia Toward Taif and Yanbu Intercepted and Destroyed," SPA posted on X at 5:03 a.m. ET Saturday.
At 9:40 p.m. ET Friday, SPA posted: "Coalition: Air Defenses Intercept and Destroy Ballistic Missile Launched by Terrorist Houthi Militia Toward Riyadh."
GROKsiNEWS.com reported on an earlier coalition interception of a missile fired toward Riyadh on Tuesday.
Houthi claims
On Saturday at 12:00 p.m. ET, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree posted a statement claiming seven missile and drone operations in Saudi Arabia, which he described as a response to Saudi airstrikes on Yemen. He claimed attacks on King Khalid Airport in Riyadh "in two phases," Aramco in Yanbu, the Rabigh oil refinery, crude oil pumping stations and the East-West crude pipeline, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Najran Airport and the Khamis Mushait air base (translated from Arabic). The statement gave no dates for the individual operations. These are Houthi claims.
Related: Yemen's government says Houthi missiles hit Coast Guard sites in Aden; Houthi-run ministry reports deaths from strikes in Sanaa and Saudi Civil Defense says two Houthi missiles fired toward Mecca and Medina regions were intercepted.
What is not known
Whether the interceptions caused damage or casualties is not known.
Sources
- Saudi Press Agency (@Spa_Eng) on X, Oct. 24, 2026, 5:03 AM ET (09:03 UTC)
- Saudi Press Agency (@Spa_Eng) on X, Oct. 23, 2026, 9:40 PM ET (01:40 UTC Oct. 24)
- GROKsiNEWS.com, "Coalition says it intercepted ballistic missile fired toward Riyadh, blames Houthis," Oct. 20, 2026
- Yahya Saree (@Yah_Saree) on X, statement on seven operations (Arabic), Oct. 24, 2026, 12:00 PM ET (16:00 UTC)
