RIYADH: Four people were injured by falling debris in Riyadh after air defense systems knocked down Houthi missiles over the Saudi capital.
Loud explosions were heard in Riyadh just before midnight on Tuesday as Saudi air defenses engaged hostile targets above the city.
Shrapnel from two intercepted cruise missiles landed around 15 residential homes, injuring four people, the Saudi Civil Defense confirmed on Wednesday. The authority also released images showing the extent of damage to civilian residences.
Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, stated early Wednesday that another cruise missile was destroyed in Al-Kharj governorate.
Latest Attacks Across the Kingdom
Saudi Arabia dealt with multiple ballistic missiles and drones launched across the Kingdom on Tuesday. Ballistic missiles targeted at Dhahran and Haradh were successfully intercepted by authorities.
The Energy Ministry stated that a Saudi Aramco administrative building in Dhahran was targeted, adding that no injuries were reported. Additionally, Al-Maliki confirmed late Tuesday that three drones were destroyed north of Riyadh.
Saudi Cabinet Warns Houthis of Consequences
The Saudi government promised that Iran-backed Houthi rebels will face severe consequences for their repeated attacks on the Kingdom.
In a Cabinet session chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ministers strongly condemned the Houthi actions and vowed to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait.
The Cabinet backed coalition military operations to neutralize threats posed by the group to Yemenis, international peace, security, and global trade.
Weekend Attacks Targeting Civilians
On Saturday, an attack targeting Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed 13 people and left hundreds injured. The strike on the civilian facility drew widespread international condemnation.
The Houthis also attacked Abha International Airport and Yemen’s Aden International Airport this week.
Video footage of the King Khalid Airport attack released by Saudi authorities showed passengers, including many religious pilgrims heading to Makkah and Madinah, waiting at terminals before a bright orange flash engulfed the area.
According to the aviation authority, the deceased included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals, a Palestinian, a US citizen, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian, and a Sudanese national. A day later, a Pakistani civilian was killed when the same airport came under attack again.
Repeated Houthi Strikes on Saudi Arabia
The Houthis restarted active conflict in July and pledged to blockade Saudi oil moving through the Bab Al-Mandab Strait. The group maintains strong ties with Tehran and is widely regarded as a proxy for Iranian interests in Yemen.
Following the outbreak of war involving the US, Israel, and Iran in February, Tehran has aimed to degrade Gulf energy supplies to press US President Donald Trump to end conflict measures. In September, the Kingdom shut down its East-West Pipeline after it was targeted by Iran-aligned groups in Iraq.
Targeting of Islamic Holy Cities
Beyond energy infrastructure, Iran-aligned proxies have repeatedly targeted religious sites. A Houthi drone was shot down south of Makkah in September, and earlier this month, a drone struck a power station supplying the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. In 2017, a missile approaching Makkah was intercepted and destroyed by coalition forces.
As Makkah and Madinah are the two holiest sites in Islam, any attack targeting these cities or visiting pilgrims causes significant global concern.
Coalition Military Operations in Yemen
On Tuesday, coalition forces stated they executed military operations to neutralize Houthi capabilities used for strikes against Saudi Arabia. The coalition noted that the group continues using civilian infrastructure and energy resources to sustain military operations.
Identified targets included the central Al-Sabaha station in Sanaa, underground fuel storage reserves, fuel tanks, and dedicated piers for transferring fuel in Hodeidah, Sanaa, and Dhamar. Al-Maliki urged civilians to evacuate the Al-Sabaha fuel station for their safety, releasing location maps alongside the warning.
Reports suggest the Al-Sabaha facility became critical as other Houthi fuel infrastructure faced sustained pressure. Earlier this month, coalition forces destroyed 324 high-value targets under “Operation Dawn of Yemen.”
The Houthis originally seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, prompting Saudi Arabia to intervene in support of the internationally recognized government.
Stalemate on Wider Conflict
The conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran has entered its seventh month, resulting in thousands of casualties, mostly in Iran, while disrupting regional security and global energy markets.
Both the US and Iran continue attempting to negotiate acceptable resolution terms this week. Trump has threatened a full-scale military offensive following the US congressional elections next month if Iran fails to agree to terms.
Meanwhile, Iranian forces targeting energy tankers in the Strait of Hormuz have claimed transit rights over the naval route, prompting a counter-blockade on Iranian oil exports by Washington. A senior Iranian official remarked Sunday that the latest US proposal remained insufficient.
Late Tuesday, the British maritime agency UKMTO reported that a tanker and a container ship were struck by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that investigations are currently underway.
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