Saudi Arabia said Saturday that Yemen’s Houthi rebels had launched a ballistic missile toward Riyadh, marking the first reported attempt to strike the capital since fighting intensified with the Iran-backed group and opened a new front in the Iran war.
The Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis issued its statement hours after the pre-dawn attack, saying its air defenses had intercepted the missile.
Some Riyadh residents reported hearing an explosion, while others later saw a column of smoke rising near the airport.
Authorities reported no casualties or property damage.
The coalition also said Houthi forces had attempted to strike civilian infrastructure in the Red Sea port of Yanbu, the terminus of a major Saudi oil pipeline, as well as targets in Taif, Baysh and Farasan. It provided no additional details.
Earlier, the Houthis claimed without presenting evidence that they had hit “sensitive sites” in Riyadh and Saudi oil giant Aramco’s facilities in Yanbu, allegedly triggering “massive fires.”
Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The widening conflict near another critical international shipping route is adding fresh uncertainty for global markets.
Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said the group used cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and drones in the attacks.
Saree also accused Saudi Arabia of trying to strike Sanaa, the rebel-held capital of neighboring Yemen, but offered no details. The Associated Press could not independently verify either side’s claims.
The latest incidents follow a series of sharp escalations in recent days.
On Thursday, Saudi civil defense officials reported the first civilian death, saying debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed a Yemeni resident of Saudi Arabia.
A day earlier, Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted a Houthi drone targeting Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, and described protecting the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad as a “red line.” The Houthis strongly rejected the allegation.
The United States, a close Saudi partner, has indicated that it is not currently engaged in a fight with the Houthis.
Regional officials told The Associated Press that Saudi Arabia is running short of missile interceptors and has sought air-defense assistance from France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt.
At the same time, battles have intensified inside Yemen between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government.
More than a week ago, Houthi forces advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, capturing the strategic port of Mokha and islands near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the Red Sea’s southern entrance.
The gains have strengthened the rebels’ ability to monitor ships passing through the waterway, although the Houthis say their attacks are limited to Saudi vessels.
The renewed fighting in Yemen represents a return to a devastating civil war after four years of relative calm.