Saudi-Led Coalition Says It Intercepted Houthi Ballistic Missile Targeting Riyadh

Yemen’s Houthi movement announced on Monday evening, October 12, 2026, that it had launched a ballistic missile toward the Saudi capital, Riyadh, claiming the strike had accurately hit its intended target. However, the Saudi-led military coalition said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed the missile before it reached its destination.

Coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki confirmed in a post on the social media platform X that a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis toward Riyadh had been intercepted and destroyed. The announcement came shortly after explosions were reportedly heard in the Saudi capital.

The incident coincided with security warnings urging residents to remain calm, stay inside their homes or in secure locations, keep away from windows and doors, and follow civil defense instructions amid concerns over potential aerial threats.

The reported attack comes amid heightened regional security tensions and continued concerns over missile and drone strikes targeting strategic infrastructure, raising further questions about the security situation in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.