The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said early Saturday that it had intercepted two ballistic missiles and two drones launched by the Iran-backed Houthis toward the kingdom, in a fresh escalation of the group's months-long campaign of attacks against Saudi Arabia.
According to a Reuters report from Cairo dated September 26, the coalition said in posts on X that the missiles were headed toward Khamis Mushait while the drones were aimed at the capital, Riyadh. The coalition said it was continuing to monitor the missile and drone threat, without providing further details. Saudi civil defence sent overnight alerts for Khamis Mushait and Abha, though none for Riyadh.
A campaign running since July
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen and much of the country's north, have been launching attacks against Saudi Arabia since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July, including strikes on Saudi vessels in the Red Sea. The attacks have targeted Saudi cities, energy infrastructure and shipping.
The campaign is adding to pressure on global oil supplies already strained by the US-Israeli war on Iran, and it puts at risk the main alternative Red Sea shipping route for Gulf exports at a time when traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains largely blocked.
New defence pact in the spotlight
Hours before the interceptions, the military chiefs of Saudi Arabia and defence allies Pakistan and Turkey met in Riyadh to review the threats facing the kingdom. The three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement last month, under which an armed attack on any of them would be treated as an attack on all, aimed at strengthening collective deterrence and military cooperation.
Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said early Saturday that he had affirmed with Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir in Riyadh continued joint efforts to confront attacks against the kingdom under the pact.
The episode underscores how the Houthi campaign is pulling regional powers deeper into a widening confrontation, with energy markets watching every new interception for signs of further escalation.
Sources:
Saudi coalition says it intercepts Houthi missiles, drones — Reuters via TBS News
According to a Reuters report from Cairo dated September 26, the coalition said in posts on X that the missiles were headed toward Khamis Mushait while the drones were aimed at the capital, Riyadh. The coalition said it was continuing to monitor the missile and drone threat, without providing further details. Saudi civil defence sent overnight alerts for Khamis Mushait and Abha, though none for Riyadh.
A campaign running since July
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen and much of the country's north, have been launching attacks against Saudi Arabia since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July, including strikes on Saudi vessels in the Red Sea. The attacks have targeted Saudi cities, energy infrastructure and shipping.
The campaign is adding to pressure on global oil supplies already strained by the US-Israeli war on Iran, and it puts at risk the main alternative Red Sea shipping route for Gulf exports at a time when traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains largely blocked.
New defence pact in the spotlight
Hours before the interceptions, the military chiefs of Saudi Arabia and defence allies Pakistan and Turkey met in Riyadh to review the threats facing the kingdom. The three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement last month, under which an armed attack on any of them would be treated as an attack on all, aimed at strengthening collective deterrence and military cooperation.
Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said early Saturday that he had affirmed with Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir in Riyadh continued joint efforts to confront attacks against the kingdom under the pact.
The episode underscores how the Houthi campaign is pulling regional powers deeper into a widening confrontation, with energy markets watching every new interception for signs of further escalation.
Sources:
Saudi coalition says it intercepts Houthi missiles, drones — Reuters via TBS News
