Saudi air defences stopped two ballistic missiles headed for Riyadh in the early hours of Sunday, as Houthi attacks on the kingdom intensified over the weekend. The Saudi-led coalition said its forces also shot down three drones over the oil-rich Eastern Province, hours after intercepting two more drones on Saturday.
Residents of the Saudi capital were woken by a civil defence alert at 4:08 a.m., Arab News reported, warning of an incoming aerial threat. Shortly afterwards, coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said on X that air defences had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis towards Riyadh.
It was the second night in a row that Saudi defences were tested. On Saturday, the coalition said it had intercepted two drones in the Riyadh region and the south of the country. The Houthis, who control most of the populous parts of Yemen, have stepped up strikes on Saudi airports, ports and oil facilities in recent days, while Saudi Arabia has ramped up airstrikes on Houthi targets inside Yemen in response.
What happened overnight
According to the coalition, the two ballistic missiles were aimed directly at Riyadh. The three drones were intercepted over the Eastern Province, the kingdom’s economic powerhouse and home to much of its oil industry. No casualties from Sunday’s interceptions were reported.
The announcements came with reports of further drone interceptions near the Yemeni city of Marib, where fighting has intensified on several fronts. The coalition, which backs Yemen’s internationally recognised government, said it had also destroyed several drones launched towards Marib.
On Saturday, the US Embassy in Riyadh issued a nationwide security alert for Americans in the kingdom as the conflict escalated, warning of the threat of further Houthi attacks.
A pattern of escalation
Saudi defences have been busy all week. On Wednesday, air defences intercepted Houthi missiles and drones launched towards Riyadh, Mecca and other regions, the coalition said, a day after downing a ballistic missile and a cruise missile aimed at the capital.
Saudi authorities say at least 26 people have been killed in suspected Houthi drone and missile attacks in the kingdom since September 23. The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, the East-West pipeline and oil infrastructure in the east and south of the country. Hostilities between the two sides reignited in July after months of relative calm.
The Houthis have denied targeting Mecca. Their military spokesman has said the group’s operations are aimed at oil facilities and military bases, not holy sites.
Why it matters for India
The escalation matters well beyond Saudi Arabia’s borders. Indian workers form one of the largest expatriate communities in the kingdom, and Indian nationals have been caught in the crossfire before. An Indian worker was killed in a Houthi strike on Dammam airport in October, and a second Indian died in an attack at Riyadh airport earlier this month.
There is also an energy angle. The Eastern Province, where three of Sunday’s drones were intercepted, sits at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s oil industry. Repeated attacks on oil infrastructure and shipping in the region have kept energy markets on edge for weeks, and any disruption in the Gulf feeds straight into fuel prices in import-dependent countries like India.
For now, the pattern is clear: the Houthis are testing Saudi defences almost daily, and Riyadh is answering with interceptions in the air and airstrikes across the border. Neither side is showing signs of stepping back.
FAQs
What did Saudi Arabia intercept on Sunday?
Two ballistic missiles launched towards Riyadh and three drones over the Eastern Province, according to the Saudi-led coalition.
Who launched the missiles?
The coalition attributed the launches to Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group, which controls most of the populous parts of Yemen.
Were there any casualties?
No casualties from Sunday’s interceptions were reported. Saudi authorities say at least 26 people have been killed in suspected Houthi attacks since September 23.
Why is the Eastern Province a target?
The Eastern Province is Saudi Arabia’s oil heartland and economic powerhouse, home to much of its oil infrastructure, which the Houthis have repeatedly attacked.
What did the US Embassy say?
The US Embassy in Riyadh issued a nationwide security alert on Saturday, warning Americans in the kingdom about the threat of further Houthi attacks.
Saudi defences held on Sunday morning. The question now is how long this near-daily exchange can go on before it spills further beyond Yemen’s borders.
