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The coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen said its forces intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militia toward Riyadh, according to a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency. Official spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Malki described the launch as part of continued escalation by the militia that deliberately targets civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Saudi capital, which is home to more than eight million people. Al-Malki said the action reflected the group’s intransigence and systematic hostile behavior. The coalition had been tracking the launch platform over Sanaa using its intelligence systems and vowed to destroy it.
Al-Malki stated that the Houthi militia also attempted to target civilians and civilian objects in the cities of Baish, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu on the same occasion. Air defense systems thwarted those attempts as well, he added in the statement issued late on October 13. The incidents come amid persistent cross-border attacks that have occurred repeatedly since the coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 to back the internationally recognized government. Similar interceptions have been reported multiple times in recent months, including in September.
The coalition command affirmed its right to take appropriate measures in accordance with customary international humanitarian law to deter the militia’s behavior, Al-Malki noted. He emphasized that such launches pose risks to populated areas and reflect a pattern of aggression. Saudi authorities had earlier activated warning systems in Riyadh, with civil defense confirming that the threat had subsided after the successful interception.
Al-Malki first mentioned the Riyadh incident in a post on X, where he confirmed that the coalition was monitoring the launch site in Sanaa for subsequent action. The statement distributed via the Saudi Press Agency provided further detail on the scale of the thwarted operation across multiple locations. Officials have repeatedly linked the Houthi capabilities to external support, though the latest announcement focused on the immediate defensive success.
The ongoing conflict in Yemen has seen the Iran-aligned Houthi group launch numerous missiles and drones toward Saudi territory since the war began, with Saudi-led forces reporting near-total interception rates in recent years according to military assessments. The coalition, which includes several Arab states, has conducted airstrikes and ground operations in support of Yemeni government forces. International efforts to broker peace have continued in parallel, though sporadic attacks have persisted despite periodic cease-fires.
