Saudi Arabia’s military coalition has intercepted two missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi group towards the western cities of Taif and Yanbu. The coalition announced the interceptions on Saturday as the kingdom faced renewed attacks. Saudi authorities had also issued safety warnings for several western regions shortly before the announcement.
The civil defence agency warned residents about potential danger in four regions, including Taif, Yanbu and Makkah. Authorities urged people to move to the nearest safe location. However, officials withdrew all the alerts within minutes of issuing them.
Read more: Houthis deny launching drones towards Saudi Arabia
The agency also warned people against sharing images or information related to missile and drone interceptions. The warning included a legal notice about publishing details of Saudi Arabia’s defensive operations. Authorities did not provide further details about the intercepted missiles or report any damage from Saturday’s incident.
Saudi Arabia has faced repeated attacks from the Houthis in recent weeks as Yemen’s civil war intensifies again. The group has targeted Saudi oil infrastructure and airports. These attacks have raised security concerns across the Gulf kingdom amid wider regional tensions.
Yanbu holds strategic importance because it serves as a major oil export hub on the Red Sea coast. The port has helped Saudi Arabia move much of its crude oil exports without relying on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s blockade of the strait has increased the importance of alternative export routes.
Read more: Saudi security non-negotiable, says Pakistan amid Houthi attacks
Earlier this month, an attack on Riyadh airport killed 13 people and wounded dozens more, according to the report. The latest missile interceptions follow a series of attacks that have placed Saudi infrastructure and public safety under pressure. Officials have not linked Saturday’s missiles directly to that earlier airport attack.
Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition that intervened in Yemen’s conflict in 2015. The war devastated the country and contributed to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Fighting had largely subsided after a 2022 ceasefire, but renewed hostilities erupted in July as a wider Middle East conflict intensified regional instability.