Saudi Arabia confirmed on Saturday that Yemen’s Houthi rebels attempted to launch a ballistic missile at its capital, marking the first attack on Riyadh since the escalation of hostilities with the Iran-backed rebels. The Saudi-led coalition revealed this information after the failed early morning missile strike, which was reportedly intercepted. Residents in Riyadh heard an explosion and later observed a plume of smoke near the airport, although there were no casualties or damage reported.
The coalition statement also disclosed that the Houthis made unsuccessful attempts to target civilian infrastructure in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, as well as in Taif, Baysh, and Farasan. The rebels had earlier claimed to have attacked “sensitive sites” in Riyadh and Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu, alleging the start of massive fires. However, Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, did not provide any comments on the incident.
The conflict near a crucial global shipping route has created new market pressures. Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree asserted that they used cruise and ballistic missiles along with drones in the attacks. He accused Saudi Arabia of attempting to strike the rebel-held city of Sanaa in Yemen but did not provide specific details.
Recent days have witnessed escalating tensions, with the first civilian casualty reported on Thursday when debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed a Yemeni resident in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of trying to drone attack Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, which the rebels vehemently denied.
The United States has indicated that it is not currently involved in the conflict with the Houthis, while reports suggest that Saudi Arabia is facing a shortage of missile interceptors and has sought air defense support from countries like France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt. In Yemen, fighting between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed government has intensified, with the rebels making territorial gains along the Red Sea coast.
The ongoing conflict in Yemen signifies a return to a devastating civil war after a period of relative calm lasting four years.