Coalition Intercepts Missiles Targeting Riyadh and Southern Saudi Arabia

The Saudi-led coalition announced on Tuesday that it downed three missiles fired at the country, including two targeted at the capital, Riyadh, and one aimed at the southern region.

Major-General Turki al-Maliki, the coalition's spokesperson, identified the Iran-backed Houthis as the source of the attack in posts on X. He detailed that a ballistic missile and a cruise missile were intercepted and destroyed over Riyadh, while a second ballistic missile was downed over the south.

Residents in Riyadh heard multiple explosions, according to AFP, and received text alerts instructing them to take shelter from an aerial threat. A later message from the civil defence agency stated the danger had passed. No injuries or deaths were reported from the Tuesday strikes.

This attack follows a series of recent incidents targeting Saudi infrastructure. On Monday, the East-West oil pipeline in the Medina region was struck again. A Saudi Energy Ministry official told the state-run SPA news agency that the hit caused a limited fire which was quickly extinguished, noting that pipeline operations were unaffected.

The pipeline serves as a key export route for Saudi oil, especially as restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz tighten following the US-Israel war against Iran. The facility has faced repeated attacks as the conflict fuels a global energy crisis.

Earlier in the week, on Sunday, the Houthis claimed an attack on Riyadh's business district. Saudi officials said debris from that attempted strike caused minor damage to the Aramco Tower. Images from SPA showed the deputy governor of the Riyadh region inspecting the building, where damage was visible on several floors.

The coalition continues to support the internationally recognized Yemeni government in its offensive to retake territory. In response, Houthi forces have repeatedly targeted Saudi oil infrastructure, including refineries and storage facilities, using drones and missiles.