Saudi-led coalition says it shot down Houthi missiles aimed at Riyadh
USO•The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted missiles fired towards Riyadh and other parts of Saudi Arabia, while the Houthis said they struck targets including an airport and oil facility. The Houthis also said they attacked Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline; Saudi state media reported an earlier pipeline attack caused a limited fire but did not affect operations.
1. Missile interceptions and claims
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile and a cruise missile fired towards Riyadh, along with a ballistic missile aimed at the kingdom’s southern region and a drone over the east. Saudi civil defences issued alerts in Riyadh, Abha and Khamis Mushait, then said the threats had passed. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and an oil facility in Abqaiq; there was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia.
2. Pipeline and airstrikes
The Houthis said they attacked Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline in Riyadh Province, while denying a Saudi assertion that they had attacked it in the Medina region. Saudi state media had reported on Monday that an attack in Medina caused a limited fire and did not affect operations. The Houthis also reported Saudi airstrikes in Sanaa, including hits on a petrol station and a building belonging to the state oil company.
3. Escalating hostilities
Fighting between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia has intensified since September, when the Houthis advanced towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis have stepped up strikes on Saudi airports, ports and oil facilities, while Saudi Arabia has carried out airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Riyadh has used its East-West Pipeline to divert about 4 million barrels per day of crude to Yanbu, equivalent to about 4% of global supply.
