Houthi Missile Targets Riyadh For First Time
Grand'Garde (Souvenir of the Siege of Paris) — James Tissot, 1878
What Happened
Saudi Arabia said Yemen's Houthi rebels attempted a ballistic missile attack on Riyadh early Saturday, the first such attempt on the Saudi capital since fighting escalated. The coalition said it intercepted the missile; some residents heard an explosion and saw smoke near the airport. No casualties or damage were reported from this attack.
Why It Matters
The Riyadh attack caused no injuries, but the wider escalation has already killed at least one person — a Yemeni resident struck by debris from an intercepted drone on Thursday. Regional officials say Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and has asked other countries for air defence help. Fighting inside Yemen has also intensified, marking a return to open conflict after four years of relative calm.
What's Next
Regional officials say Saudi Arabia has asked France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt for air defence support as interceptor supplies run low.