Saudi Defenses Repel Houthi Ballistic Missile Over Eastern Province, Coalition Says

• The coalition reported that at least 15 missiles and drones were intercepted or destroyed across Saudi Arabia this month, including multiple attacks on Riyadh and Najran.
• Coalition forces carried out operations to neutralize Houthi resources used to support missile and drone attacks, as the kingdom sought to protect regional security.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia toward the Eastern Province, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday, as the Kingdom continued to face missile and drone threats amid the wider conflict involving Iran.

Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki announced the interception, the latest in a series of aerial threats targeting several Saudi regions since the beginning of the month.

The coalition reported that at least 15 ballistic and cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted or destroyed across the Kingdom this month.

On Saturday, air defenses destroyed a cruise missile launched toward the Riyadh region. A day earlier, two ballistic missiles targeting Najran were intercepted, and debris fell as authorities assessed possible damage. Two drones were also destroyed in the Riyadh and Makkah regions on Nov. 6.

Other interceptions included a ballistic missile targeting the Madinah region on Nov. 5, three drones directed toward the southern, Eastern and Makkah regions on Nov. 3, and two drones and a ballistic missile targeting Riyadh and the southern region on Nov. 2.

The coalition also reported intercepting a drone and a ballistic missile aimed at the southern region on Nov. 1.

Airport attacks disrupt air travel

The latest attacks followed a series of Houthi strikes on Saudi airports, energy facilities and other infrastructure that caused significant disruption to civilian aviation.

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh suspended operations following attacks in October that killed and wounded civilians. Its closure was extended to allow safety inspections before operations gradually resumed under restrictions.

Several international airlines extended suspensions of services to Riyadh into November, while disruptions also affected airports in Dammam, Abha and Najran.

Attacks linked to wider regional conflict

The renewed Houthi campaign comes amid the US-Israeli war against Iran, which began on Feb. 28 and has intensified tensions across the Middle East.

The Iran-aligned Houthis have expanded their attacks against Saudi targets as the wider confrontation has escalated, raising concerns over threats to civilian infrastructure, energy supplies and maritime shipping lanes.

On Nov. 1, Al-Maliki announced that coalition forces conducted a precision operation to neutralize vital resources used by the Houthis to support their military activities, particularly their ballistic missile and drone programs.

He said the group was exploiting those resources to sustain attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, as well as threaten maritime shipping in the southern Red Sea.

The coalition warned that it would continue taking operational measures to deter further attacks and protect the security of the Kingdom and the region.

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