Saudi Arabia confirmed a Houthi missile strike near Riyadh airport, with flames and smoke reported near the airport. The attack came hours after the Saudi government issued an air raid alert, marking the first such alert for Riyadh since fighting with the Houthis escalated in July.
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a Houthi missile aimed at Riyadh, with no casualties reported. The Houthis claimed they attacked 'sensitive' sites in the capital and Saudi oil facilities, but the coalition said they were thwarted. The attack came days after the Houthis seized strategic Red Sea islands, raising concerns about a potential second oil supply crisis.
The UN security council condemned the Houthi attacks, calling for practical cooperation to prevent the group from acquiring arms and other military support. The conflict has drawn international attention, with the U.S. issuing a security alert for Americans in the region and Saudi Arabia seeking air defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt.
The Houthis have been active in Yemen, where nearly 105,000 people have fled their homes, and they have claimed to have attacked civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including the Red Sea port city of Yanbu.