Saudi-led coalition says Houthi missile aimed at Riyadh was intercepted

Saudi Arabia has confirmed that Yemen's Houthi rebels attempted to strike the capital, Riyadh, with a ballistic missile, in an attack that the Saudi-led coalition said was intercepted.

The coalition's statement, issued late on Saturday, came hours after the morning attempt. It marked the first attack directed at Riyadh since fighting intensified between the Iran-backed Houthis and Yemeni government forces supported by the Saudis.

According to the coalition, the Houthis also sought to target civilian infrastructure in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, as well as in Taif, Baysh and Farasan. Those attempts were thwarted, the coalition said, without offering further details.

Earlier, the Houthis claimed — without providing evidence — that they had struck "sensitive sites" in Riyadh and facilities belonging to the Saudi oil giant Aramco in Yanbu, asserting that the attacks caused "massive fires." Aramco, the world's largest oil company, did not respond to a request for comment.

The escalation comes as the conflict moves closer to another key global shipping corridor, adding fresh pressure on markets.