Iran-Backed Houthis’ Ballistic Missile Attack on Riyadh Confirmed by Saudi Arabia

RIYADH (Terror Monitor) — Saudi Arabia has confirmed that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis attempted to target the capital Riyadh with a ballistic missile on Saturday morning, but Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed the missile.

Major General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, said the ballistic missile launched by the Iran-backed Houthis toward Riyadh was intercepted and destroyed in the air by Saudi air defenses. Saudi authorities also said the Iran-backed Houthis attempted to target civilians and civilian infrastructure in Bishah, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu, but the attacks were thwarted.

The reported missile launch marked the first confirmed attempt to target Riyadh since fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis intensified in recent days. Before the attack, Saudi authorities issued emergency air-raid warnings for Riyadh and Al-Kharj, urging residents to move to safe locations, stay away from open areas and avoid crowds.

Meanwhile, some residents in Riyadh reported hearing several explosions. According to AFP, a fire broke out near a fuel storage facility close to King Khalid International Airport, where a fuel tank bearing the logo of Saudi oil giant Aramco was reportedly seen engulfed in flames. Large plumes of black smoke were also visible from the area.

The Iran-backed Houthis have claimed to have targeted “sensitive” installations in the Saudi capital. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group carried out two military operations targeting what he described as sensitive sites in Riyadh and an Aramco facility in Yanbu, a major oil hub on the Red Sea coast. He said the attacks involved ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones.

The Iran-backed Houthis also claimed that their attack on the Aramco facility in Yanbu caused a large fire. However, the claims could not be independently verified. Saudi authorities have confirmed that a missile launched toward Riyadh was intercepted and said other attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis against several locations were also thwarted.

The attacks come amid a sharp escalation in tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis in recent days. The Iran-backed Houthis have intensified their ground operations along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, while Saudi Arabia has continued airstrikes against areas under Houthi control. The escalation has raised concerns over the security of the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and critical energy infrastructure in the region.

The United States has also warned that the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis could rapidly escalate further. The latest missile attack on Riyadh marks another significant development in the ongoing confrontation between the two sides.