Saudi Air Defenses Intercept Houthi Ballistic Missile Targeting Riyadh

RIYADH, Sept 19: Saudi air defenses early Saturday intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militia toward the capital, Riyadh, the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen said.

Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki said the missile was intercepted on Saturday, September 19, 2026.

Al-Maliki said the Houthis had continued attempts to target civilians and civilian infrastructure in Riyadh, a city of more than eight million residents and citizens.

He also said Houthi attempts to target the cities of Bisha, Taif, Khurs and Yanbu had been thwarted by Saudi air defenses.

The Coalition spokesperson described the attacks as deliberate attempts to target civilians and civilian facilities and said the escalation demonstrated what he called the Houthi militia’s continued hostile conduct.

Al-Maliki affirmed that the Coalition leadership has the right to take measures it considers necessary, in accordance with international humanitarian law and customary international law, to deter what he described as Houthi attacks.