Saudi-led coalition says four drones were intercepted and destroyed in the Riyadh and Madinah regions

As of 8:40 a.m. ET, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026

The Saudi-led coalition said Thursday, Oct. 22, that four drones were intercepted and destroyed in the Riyadh and Madinah regions of Saudi Arabia, according to a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency at 7:42 a.m. ET (2:42 p.m. Saudi time).

"Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki stated that four UAVs have been intercepted and destroyed in Riyadh and Madinah regions," the agency said in its English-language version, posted at 8:17 a.m. ET.

Earlier interception in the Riyadh region

Earlier Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency carried a separate statement from Al-Malki saying a single drone had been intercepted and destroyed in the Riyadh region. The agency's Arabic service published it at 5:04 a.m. ET, and its English service at 5:41 a.m. ET. "Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki stated that a UAV was intercepted and destroyed in Riyadh Region," the English version said.

What is not known

The coalition's statement did not say when the four drones were intercepted, where in the two regions, where they were launched from or by whom, or whether any debris fell or caused damage or injuries. It also did not say whether the four include the drone reported intercepted in the Riyadh region earlier Thursday.