A Saudi-led military coalition has intercepted and destroyed two missiles launched towards Riyadh by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, following reports of loud explosions in the Saudi capital on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence had issued an alert across the Riyadh region shortly before the explosions were heard, according to a Reuters witness. Authorities later announced that the immediate danger had passed.
The coalition subsequently confirmed that it had intercepted and destroyed two cruise missiles targeting Riyadh and the country’s southern region.
The latest incident comes amid renewed hostilities that have effectively ended a United Nations-brokered truce reached in 2022. Saudi Arabia led a coalition of Arab countries into Yemen in 2015 to restore the internationally recognized government after Houthi fighters seized the capital, Sanaa.
The conflict has since become part of the wider Middle East war that began in February following US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
Since fighting resumed in July, the Houthis have launched missiles and drones at Saudi airports, ports and oil facilities. Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.
Sunday’s missile interceptions followed reports by Yemen’s Houthi-run health ministry that Saudi airstrikes had killed at least 33 people near Sanaa on Saturday. Saudi authorities said they were investigating the reported casualties.
