Saudi defences intercept Houthi missile and drones amid Riyadh airport reopening
Saudi-led coalition air defences intercepted a ballistic missile and two drones launched by Yemen's Houthis on 25-26 October, as King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh resumed limited operations after a two-week closure caused by earlier attacks. The incident reflects an escalating Houthi campaign against Saudi Arabia following the collapse of a years-long truce in Yemen's civil war.
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Explosions were heard over the Saudi capital on 25-26 October as coalition air defences intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile and two drones targeting Riyadh province, according to reports. The interceptions came as King Khalid International Airport, the kingdom's main gateway in Riyadh, resumed limited operations following a two-week closure prompted by earlier Houthi attacks.
The attacks form part of a sustained Houthi campaign against Saudi Arabia that has intensified since a years-long truce in Yemen's civil war broke down over the summer. The wider regional conflict between the United States, Iran and their respective allies has reshaped the balance of forces in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognised government it backs in Yemen have faced repeated strikes from the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in recent weeks.
The security situation has had far-reaching consequences beyond the immediate military exchanges, disrupting civil aviation and prompting the cancellation or relocation of major international events. This year's Formula One races in Jeddah and Bahrain have been affected, and the 2027 Dakar Rally has been moved out of Saudi Arabia. Organisers announced the relocation because of the deteriorating security situation.
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