The Saudi-led military coalition announced early Monday that it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched towards Riyadh by Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, better known as the Houthis.
The Houthis, who are backed by Iran and control large parts of Yemen, said they had once again targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
The incident came a day after explosions were heard in the Saudi capital and residents received official alerts warning of "air threats". Riyadh has increasingly become a target of Houthi missile and drone attacks in retaliation for Saudi support of Yemen's internationally recognised government.
According to coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki, Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed the missile before it reached its destination.
He added that coalition forces also destroyed four ballistic missile launch platforms and a Houthi missile storage facility in Yemen.
The operation was intended to disrupt supply routes linking Houthi-controlled areas, he said.
Houthis claim airport strike
For their part, the Houthis said they had successfully struck King Khalid International Airport with a ballistic missile that reached its target "accurately".
The group also claimed to have carried out a drone operation against pumping stations along the East-West crude oil pipeline, saying the attack achieved its objectives.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree further stated that Sunday night's operations included dozens of ballistic missiles targeting:
- King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh
- An air base in Khamis Mushait
- A naval installation in Jazan
Saudi authorities did not immediately provide details regarding the extent of operations at the airport.
The airport had previously been closed following a deadly Houthi strike in mid-October that killed 13 people and injured hundreds. On Sunday, however, airport authorities reported that domestic and international flights, including services from Dubai, Paris and Cairo, had resumed.
Flight-tracking website FlightRadar24 indicated that only a limited number of flights were operating.
Interceptions continue in southern Saudi Arabia
The coalition also announced on Sunday that it had intercepted:
- Ten ballistic missiles aimed at southern Saudi Arabia.
- One cruise missile targeting Khamis Mushait.
Saudi Civil Defence reported two people injured by falling debris in the south of the kingdom, while several buildings and vehicles sustained damage.
Dakar Rally moved from Saudi Arabia
The renewed conflict is beginning to affect major international events planned in the kingdom.
Following what organisers described as "recent developments in the region", the 2027 Dakar Rally will no longer be held in Saudi Arabia between 1 and 15 January, as originally planned.
A new host location is expected to be announced in the coming days.
Several other international events scheduled for Saudi Arabia have already been postponed or cancelled following the recent escalation.
Conflict fuels wider regional concerns
The war in Yemen, which expanded in 2014, pits Houthi forces against the internationally recognised government backed by Saudi Arabia.
After four years of relative de-escalation, the conflict intensified again in July amid broader instability across the Middle East.
According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), renewed fighting has killed hundreds of people and displaced more than 250,000 residents.
The escalation has also contributed to turbulence in global energy markets, already under pressure following the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz after the US-Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February.
In September, the Houthis captured coastal areas along the Red Sea, consolidating their control over the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key shipping route linking Europe and Asia via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.
Source: ANA-MPA
