Saudi-led coalition intercepts Houthi missiles and drones aimed at kingdom
Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted two Houthi ballistic missiles and two drones targeting Khamis Mushait and Riyadh.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said early on Saturday that it had intercepted two ballistic missiles and two drones launched by the Iran-backed Houthis towards the kingdom.
In posts on X, the coalition said the missiles were aimed at Khamis Mushait and the drones at Riyadh. It added that it was monitoring the missile and drone threat against Saudi Arabia, without giving further details.
Saudi civil defence had issued overnight alerts for Khamis Mushait and Abha, but not for Riyadh.
The Houthis, who control Yemen's most populous areas and much of the north, have been attacking Saudi Arabia since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July. Their strikes have targeted Saudi vessels in the Red Sea, as well as cities, energy infrastructure and shipping.
The attacks add to pressure on global oil supplies amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, and put at risk the main alternative Red Sea route for Gulf exports while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains largely blocked.
Hours before the interception, the military chiefs of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey met in the Saudi capital to review threats facing the kingdom. The three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement last month, pledging to treat an armed attack on any of them as an attack on all, with the aim of strengthening collective deterrence and military cooperation.
Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said early on Saturday that he had affirmed with Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir in Riyadh continued joint efforts to confront attacks against the kingdom in line with the pact.