The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen announced that last night it intercepted two missiles fired by Iran-backed Houthis towards Riyadh and one drone in the oil-rich eastern province of Saudi Arabia. This operation indicates an increase in military activities in Saudi Arabia.
Escalating tensions in the region
These attacks occur as tensions between the Houthis and the coalition supporting the legitimate Yemeni government have intensified. In September, the Houthis advanced towards the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic point for shipping at the southern entrance of the Red Sea. Since then, the Houthis have increased their attacks on airports, ports, and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, and the coalition has retaliated with airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen.
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Defensive operations and airstrikes
The coalition stated that its air defense systems successfully destroyed a ballistic missile and a cruise missile that were fired towards the Saudi capital. Additionally, earlier, the Saudi Civil Defense Authority issued an early warning for the city of Riyadh, which was later announced to have been lifted.
In a separate statement, the coalition announced that another ballistic missile fired towards southern Saudi Arabia, where it borders Yemen, was also intercepted and destroyed. The Saudi Civil Defense Authority had also issued warnings for the cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait, which were later announced to have been lifted.
The Saba news agency, linked to the Houthis, reported that Saudi Arabia conducted airstrikes on the Houthi-controlled capital, Sana'a. These strikes damaged the Al-Mafazir gas station in the Jadir area north of Sana'a and a building belonging to the state oil company in southern Sana'a. Saba also reported that civil defense teams were working to extinguish fires in gas tanks at the Al-Mafazir station.
Saudi Arabia has not yet responded to these airstrikes, and the Houthis have not immediately claimed responsibility for firing the missiles and drones towards Saudi Arabia.
The coalition also announced that it intercepted and destroyed another drone that was launched over the oil-rich eastern province of Saudi Arabia. This province, known as Saudi Arabia's economic powerhouse, has faced multiple attacks from the Houthis in recent weeks. This region houses most of Saudi Arabia's oil and gas resources, and the headquarters of the major Saudi oil company Aramco is located there, which sustained extensive damage in an attack in October.
Southern Saudi Arabia, which borders Yemen, has frequently been targeted by Houthi missile and drone attacks that damage the country's military facilities and energy infrastructure.
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