Overview
- The Huthi movement said it launched multiple ballistic missiles and drones this weekend and claimed seven strikes on Saudi airports, energy sites and military bases, including Riyadh’s King Khalid terminal and Aramco facilities.
- Saudi and coalition spokespeople reported intercepting missiles and drones bound for Riyadh, Taif, Yanbu and the south, and said debris from intercepted projectiles fell near Mecca and Medina while the Huthis deny targeting the holy cities.
- Saudi airstrikes hit Huthi-held areas in Sanaa and nearby provinces, with Huthi media reporting civilian deaths and damage but casualty figures and target lists remain contested and lack independent verification.
- The attacks have forced temporary closures and major service interruptions at Riyadh airport, canceled or delayed many flights, and led Saudi authorities and event organizers to postpone or relocate high-profile gatherings including the investment forum and the Dakar Rally.
- The flare-up follows the collapse of the 2022 truce and the Huthi capture of Red Sea coastlines and the Bab el Mandeb in September, a shift that raises risks to Red Sea shipping and has driven oil prices higher by threatening regional trade routes.