Saudi-led coalition intercepts Houthi missiles and drones aimed at Riyadh

Missiles and drones aimed at Riyadh

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said on Sunday, 15 November, that its air defences had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh. Spokesman Turki al-Maliki posted the announcement on X early that day, after the kingdom's civil protection service had sounded an alert across the wider capital area, which has since been lifted. The coalition had said earlier on Saturday, 14 November, that two suspected Houthi drones were destroyed over Riyadh and southern regions. Reports differ on the drone count, with Skai citing three drones aimed at the Eastern Province and Al Jazeera citing two.

“Air defences intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi terrorist militia toward Riyadh.”

Attacks on the capital and the oil sector

The Houthis, who hold most of Yemen's densely populated areas including the capital Sanaa, have repeatedly targeted King Khalid International airport in Riyadh. They have also struck the East-West pipeline and oil infrastructure in eastern and southern Saudi Arabia. On Sunday the group claimed attacks on Riyadh's financial centre, where witnesses said an Aramco skyscraper was damaged. Saudi authorities described that incident as an "attempted attack" that caused "minor damage". The Eastern Province, which hosts many oil facilities and Aramco's headquarters, was hit by a strike in October that damaged the company's headquarters there. Saudi authorities say at least 26 people have been killed in suspected Houthi drone and missile attacks since 23 September, and 23 of those deaths came in attacks on airports.

Fighting inside Yemen

Fighting has also intensified inside Yemen, particularly in Marib and al-Jawf, where the UN migration agency says more than 340,000 people have been displaced since August. Yemeni army spokesman Colonel Majid al-Nuzaili said government forces made gains during heavy fighting in the al-Hazm and Madghal districts of al-Jawf. He put at 321 the number of Houthi leaders killed or wounded in 723 targeted operations in Taiz, Lahij, Marib and al-Jawf, and said 117 military vehicles used by the group had been destroyed. Operations by the coalition were counted at at least 37 air strikes, 56 drone attacks and 541 artillery strikes. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the coalition had carried out 72 air strikes against his group in Saada, Taiz, Lahij and al-Jawf over the past 24 hours. Houthi-affiliated media reported that two women and two children were injured by artillery shelling in a residential neighbourhood of Sanaa's Shuaub district.

Air strikes37

Drone attacks56

Artillery strikes541

Air strikes

37

Drone attacks

56

Artillery strikes

541

Data from the article text

Background and the wider war

The war in Yemen began in 2014, when the Houthis seized Sanaa, and a Saudi-led military coalition intervened in 2015. A truce was agreed in 2022, but fighting resumed in July, which Kathimerini links to the escalation after the United States and Israel began a war against Iran. The Houthis are backed by Iran, while the coalition supports Yemen's internationally recognised government. Saudi Arabia is the world's leading exporter of crude oil, according to swissinfo, and the Houthis have also targeted tankers in the Red Sea as well as Aramco refineries and storage sites.