Saudi Arabia Says It Intercepted a Houthi Missile Aimed at Riyadh as Smoke Is Seen Near the Airport

The Saudi-led coalition said on Saturday, Sept. 19, that air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthis at Riyadh at dawn, and smoke was seen rising from a fuel depot near the city’s main airport. Saudi authorities reported no casualties or damage from the attack, the Associated Press reported. The Houthis say they hit “sensitive” sites, a claim that has not been verified.

Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said the missile was “intercepted and destroyed,” Al Jazeera reported. He said the Houthis “also attempted to target civilians and civilian infrastructure in Bisha, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu,” and that the coalition retains the right to take “appropriate” action. The AP reported that drone attacks aimed at Mecca, Yanbu, Taif, Baysh and Farasan were also reportedly thwarted.

A damaged fuel tank was visible at a depot near King Khalid International Airport, and residents reported hearing an explosion and seeing smoke, according to the AP. Al Jazeera reported that a large plume of black smoke rose from the fuel storage area. No cause was stated in either report, and no casualties or damage were officially reported.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility. He said the group used “cruise and ballistic missiles as well as drones” against “sensitive” sites in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu, the AP reported. He claimed the attacks caused “massive fires,” which the AP described as unverified. Al Jazeera noted that the reports of damage came only from the coalition.

Al Jazeera reported that the fighting began in early July and is the most intense since an April 2022 truce. The AP described the escalation as opening “a new front in the Iran war.” It reported that the Houthis have seized key ports over the past week and that a Yemeni resident in Saudi Arabia was killed by debris from an intercepted drone on Thursday. Jordan, the United Nations and the Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the attacks, according to Al Jazeera. The AP reported that the United States has signaled it has no current fight with the Houthis.

The State Department issued a security alert on Saturday urging Americans in the Middle East to “exercise heightened vigilance” and warning of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions. President Trump returned to the White House from Camp David after cutting his trip short. He had been scheduled to return Sunday night, and the White House did not offer an explanation for the change, AFP reported. It is not known whether the return is connected to the attack.