Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched towards Riyadh by Yemen’s Houthi movement, the Saudi-led coalition said on Thursday, framing the latest Riyadh missile attack as an aerial threat against the capital. Authorities warned that the city was under a “hostile aerial threat,” and reports say at least eight explosions were heard in Riyadh. Saudi officials have not yet confirmed what caused those blasts or given further detail on the newest alerts.
How the interception was described
In its statement, the coalition said the two missiles were destroyed before they could strike the capital and labelled the Houthis a “terrorist militia.” The same day, Saudi air defenses also intercepted a ballistic missile launched towards the Eastern Province. A day earlier, authorities reported an interception involving a missile aimed at Taif. Together, the sequence points to a cluster of launches towards Saudi cities rather than a single isolated incident.
Alerts in Riyadh, Al-Kharj and Najran
A mobile phone warning told residents that the city of Riyadh was under a “hostile aerial threat.” Separately, the General Directorate of Civil Defense used the National Early Warning Platform to warn of “potential danger” in Riyadh, Al-Kharj Governorate and the southern city of Najran, urging people to follow official safety instructions. Similar public warnings have preceded Houthi attacks in recent weeks, according to the pattern described by officials and local reporting of the alerts.
Saudi authorities have not yet provided further details about the latest warnings in Riyadh, Al-Kharj and Najran. Until an official account of the explosions is issued, the confirmed core of the Riyadh missile attack story remains the coalition’s claim that two ballistic missiles were intercepted and destroyed.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Wednesday: Authorities reported an interception involving a missile aimed at Taif.
- Thursday: The Saudi-led coalition said air defenses intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched towards Riyadh by the Houthis.
- Thursday: Saudi air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile launched towards the Eastern Province.
- Thursday: Civil defense and phone alerts warned of a hostile aerial threat or potential danger in Riyadh, Al-Kharj and Najran; reports say at least eight explosions were heard in the capital, with the cause still unconfirmed by Saudi authorities.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Saudi Arab ke hawae defence ne Riyadh ki taraf aane wale do ballistic missiles ko rok kar tabaah kar diya, coalition ne kaha. Houthi group Yemen se in missiles ko launch karne ka ilzam hai. Riyadh, Al-Kharj aur Najran mein logon ko danger ki warning di gai, aur shehar mein kai dhamakon ki awazein suni gain. Wahan rehne walon ke liye yeh zaroori hai ke official safety instructions follow karein, jab tak authorities mazeed detail dein.
