Greek Patriot battery intercepts two Houthi ballistic missiles targeting Saudi refinery in Yanbu
Two ballistic missiles fired from Yemen were destroyed at 07:15 Greek time on Saturday over Yanbu, where a major oil refinery was the intended target. The Hellenic Force in Saudi Arabia reported a 100% success rate.
The interception
On Saturday 25 July 2026, at 07:15 local Greek time, a Hellenic Patriot guided missile battery deployed in Saudi Arabia engaged and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched from Yemen. The engagement was over the industrial port city of Yanbu, on the Red Sea coast, and the battery intercepted both incoming projectiles. The Hellenic National Defence General Staff (GEETHA) used the precise phrasing of a “100% successful” interception in its official communication to the press.
On Saturday 25 July at 07:15 Greek time, the PATRIOT battery of the Hellenic Force in Saudi Arabia successfully faced a 100% attack from the area of Yemen.
The battery is part of the Hellenic Force in Saudi Arabia (ELDYSA) and operates under the international Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Concept, a coalition framework that reinforces the Kingdom’s air defences. After the intercept, Greek military sources confirmed that the unit continued its regular mission without pause.
Yanbu refinery under fire
The target of the attack was a major refinery installation in the Yanbu area, according to military sources cited by multiple Greek outlets. Yanbu hosts some of Saudi Arabia’s largest downstream oil facilities and petrochemical complexes, making it a strategic asset for the country’s export economy. The Saudi Civil Defence Directorate had issued an alert for the Yanbu region prior to the incident, indicating that early warning systems detected the incoming threat and that the area was under elevated risk. No damage to the refinery or casualties on the ground have been reported in the immediate aftermath.
The choice of target follows a pattern of Houthi attempts to strike Saudi energy infrastructure. Yanbu, located roughly 300 kilometres north of Jeddah, has been the focus of previous alert warnings, although a successful missile impact on a facility of this scale would carry severe implications for global energy markets.
Greece’s Patriot mission in Saudi Arabia
The ELDYSA Patriot battery has been stationed in Saudi Arabia since early 2022 as part of the IAMD Concept, an initiative that draws together several contributing nations to plug gaps in the Kingdom’s multi-layered air defence. The Greek government first approved the deployment to demonstrate solidarity with a key partner in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf. The battery is equipped with the PAC-3 variant of the Patriot system, optimised for terminal-phase ballistic missile defence.
The IAMD Concept mission statement frames the deployment as “supporting the air defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” and the Greek contingent has operated under rotating national command, integrated into the broader coalition architecture. Saturday’s engagement is the third publicly acknowledged use of live ordnance by the Greek battery in 2026.
A pattern of Houthi attacks
The Hellenic force has been tested repeatedly this year. On 19 March 2026, the same battery downed two Iranian ballistic missiles aimed at Saudi territory. In early April, the unit fired a single missile and destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that was approaching a defended area. These three engagements, spanning March, April, and July, underline a sustained tempo of Houthi and Iran-aligned aerial threats.
- Downed two Iranian ballistic missiles.
- Shot down one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
- Intercepted two Houthi ballistic missiles targeting Yanbu refinery.
The Houthi movement, which controls large parts of northern Yemen, has long employed ballistic missiles and drones to strike targets deep inside Saudi Arabia. The attacks form part of the broader proxy conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia that has shaped the regional security landscape. The Greek intercepts illustrate the reliance of Riyadh on international partners for high-end air defence capabilities.
Looking ahead
The Greek battery remains operational at its Yanbu site, with no indication of a change in mandate. Greek defence officials have not commented on whether additional interceptors were expended or whether the engagement triggered any wider alert posture across coalition forces. The incident is expected to be discussed during upcoming NATO and EU defence coordination meetings, where the integration of national air defence assets into multinational frameworks remains a high-priority topic.
The Saudi government has yet to issue a formal statement on the intercepted attack, but the Civil Defence alert in Yanbu confirmed the gravity of the threat. For now, the Greek mission continues unchanged, tasked with shielding one of the Kingdom’s most critical industrial zones from missile attack.
