Riyadh Under Fire: Saudi Coalition Shoots Down Houthi Ballistic Missile and Drones
Saudi-led coalition forces intercept a Houthi ballistic missile and drones targeting Riyadh. King Khalid International Airport resumes operations.
The Saudi-led coalition has successfully intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militia targeting the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The incident, which unfolded on Sunday, was part of a series of aerial threats that put the city on high alert.
Air Defenses Neutralize Multiple Threats
Colonel Turki bin Saleh al-Maliki, the official spokesperson for the coalition, confirmed via a post on X that air defense systems managed to intercept and destroy the ballistic missile. However, the missile was not the only threat detected in the skies over the capital.
Earlier in the day, the coalition reported two separate instances of intercepting and destroying drones within the Riyadh region. These repeated attempts by the Houthi militia to penetrate Saudi airspace highlighted a period of intense volatility in the region.
Civil Defense Alerts and Public Safety
As the threats emerged, the Saudi General Directorate of Civil Defense took immediate action to protect the population. Through the National Early Warning Platform, a warning was issued to residents of Riyadh, alerting them to a potential danger and urging them to remain calm.
Citizens and residents were advised to:
- Proceed immediately to the nearest safe location.
- Follow updates exclusively through official government channels.
- Avoid gathering in crowds or filming the incidents for public safety.
Following the successful interceptions, the Civil Defense later announced that the danger to Riyadh City had passed, though they reminded the public to continue following safety instructions and to call 911 in case of emergencies.
Airport Operations and Houthi Claims
The tension escalated further with claims from Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, who asserted that the militia had targeted King Khalid International Airport along with several other key airports and strategic installations across the Kingdom.
In response to the situation, King Khalid International Airport issued a travel advisory and announced the resumption of flight operations across its two main terminals. To streamline operations, the airport administration implemented the following designations effective Sunday, October 25, 2026:
- Terminal 1: Dedicated to domestic flights.
- Terminal 2: Dedicated to international flights operated by national carriers.
Airport authorities urged all passengers with confirmed bookings to contact their respective airlines to verify the status of their flights before traveling to the airport to avoid any inconvenience.