Saudi Arabia Thwarts Houthi Missile Attacks on Riyadh and Eastern Province

Saudi Arabia's air defense systems successfully intercepted three ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels, targeting the kingdom's capital, Riyadh, and its Eastern Province. The coalition spokesperson, Major-General Turki al-Maliki, announced the interceptions on X on Sunday. This escalation in hostilities coincides with intensified fighting within Yemen, where government forces have launched the 'Dawn of Yemen' operation to reclaim Houthi-held territories, including Sanaa. Meanwhile, the Houthi-run Health Ministry reported that 33 people, including children and women, were killed in Saudi-led coalition air attacks on the village of al-Shariyah near Sanaa on Saturday. At least 39 others were wounded in strikes that reportedly hit homes, roads, and emergency teams. The Saudi-led coalition has not yet commented on these reported strikes, and Al Jazeera has not been able to independently verify them. Houthi-affiliated media also reported artillery shelling in the Shada border district of Saada province. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed that the coalition conducted 105 air and missile strikes across Sanaa and seven other governorates in 24 hours, bringing the total to 4,369 since the conflict escalated. Saree also asserted that the Houthis executed six operations targeting Saudi Aramco oil facilities, Riyadh airport, and military positions along the border. Separately, an attack on a market in Taiz province on Friday resulted in 30 fatalities, with the Houthis blaming Saudi airstrikes and Yemeni government forces accusing the Houthis of firing a ballistic missile. The United Nations reports that over 1,600 people have been killed and nearly 300,000 displaced since a 2022 ceasefire collapsed in July, following a Houthi blockade of Saudi ports. In September, the Houthis gained control of much of Yemen's Red Sea coast, while government forces initiated a campaign in October to recapture Houthi-controlled areas.