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Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen, announced that a cruise missile had been intercepted and destroyed in the Medina region. The statement, which Al-Maliki posted on X, was also published by the Saudi Press Agency and other state media. Medina is home to the Prophet’s Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, and the coalition provided no details on the missile’s origin, intended target or whether the incident caused casualties or damage. The Houthis had previously vowed not to target such holy cities.
Saudi civil defense authorities issued and then lifted danger warnings for Jizan and Najran on the same day, according to their social media updates. Al-Maliki additionally reported that a drone was intercepted and destroyed in the eastern region. These developments reflect a pattern of repeated aerial threats against Saudi Arabia that have intensified in recent weeks.
Debris from an intercepted Houthi ballistic missile over Riyadh injured one resident and caused limited damage to a house and vehicle on Wednesday, the Saudi Civil Defense reported. Emergency services responded promptly to the scene. The authority reiterated a call from the interior ministry urging residents not to film or share images from interception sites.
Two Houthi cruise missiles were destroyed over Riyadh the previous day, resulting in four injuries and damage to around 15 homes, according to civil defense figures. Officials activated emergency protocols in the affected neighborhoods. Such successive incidents have placed additional strain on defensive systems and response teams.
Earlier this month the Houthis targeted a power station that supplies the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, regional security reports indicated. The coalition has consistently described its actions as responses to aggression from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. Despite past declarations avoiding holy sites, attacks have continued.
The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the recognized government against the Houthi insurgency. Coalition statements over the years have tallied hundreds of intercepted missiles and drones directed at Saudi territory. Heightened regional conflicts have contributed to the persistence of cross-border threats.
