Saudi Arabia on September 18, 2026, confirmed that Yemen's Houthi rebels attempted to attack its capital, Riyadh, with a ballistic missile. The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis stated that the attempt was intercepted, with some residents in Riyadh reporting an explosion and a plume of smoke near the airport. Fortunately, there were no reports of casualties or damage.
The attempted attack on Riyadh marks the first targeting of the city since the escalation in fighting with the Tehran-backed rebels. The Houthis also claimed to have targeted civilian infrastructure in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, where a key Saudi pipeline ends, as well as in Taif, Baysh, and Farasan. However, the coalition provided no further details on these claims.
The Houthi rebels claimed to have targeted "sensitive sites" in Riyadh and facilities of Saudi oil giant Aramco in Yanbu, causing "massive fires." However, Aramco did not respond to a request for comment, and the Associated Press was unable to independently verify the claims. Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree stated that they attacked with cruise and ballistic missiles as well as drones.
The growing conflict near another important global shipping corridor has brought new pressures for markets. Recent days have seen one escalation after another, including the first civilian casualty reported on Thursday, when debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed a Yemeni resident of Saudi Arabia.
On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia said the Houthis had tried to attack Mecca, Islam's holiest city, with a drone that it said was intercepted. The Houthis fiercely denied the accusation, calling the security of the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad a "red line." The United States, a close Saudi ally, has signaled it has no current fight with the Houthis.
Regional officials have told The Associated Press that Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and instead has asked France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt for air defense support. Meanwhile, fighting has surged inside Yemen between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government.
The rebels recently seized the key port city of Mokha and islands on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, improving their surveillance of passing ships. The Houthis have stated they are only targeting Saudi ships, but the fighting in Yemen marks a return to a devastating civil war after four years of relative calm.
Key points
- The Houthi rebels attempted to attack Riyadh with a ballistic missile, which was intercepted by the Saudi-led coalition.
- The conflict has escalated in recent days, with multiple attempts to attack Saudi cities and infrastructure.
- Saudi Arabia is seeking additional air defense support from international partners due to a shortage of missile interceptors.
