Riyadh: Saudi Arabian air defence forces intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched towards Riyadh at dawn on Saturday, September 19, 2026, amid a major military escalation by Iran backed Houthi forces. According to coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al Malki, the attack coincided with additional drone and missile strikes targeting civilian and industrial infrastructure across Bisha, Taif, Farasan, and Yanbu.
A fire broke out on a fuel tank bearing the logo of Saudi oil giant Aramco at a depot adjacent to King Khalid International Airport, sending columns of black smoke into the sky before firefighters brought the blaze under control. Flight tracking services reported severe temporary disruptions at the capital's main airport before flight operations were gradually restored.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the complex operation, stating that the group deployed a large salvo of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones in two coordinated attacks aimed at sensitive sites in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu.
The strikes follow a rapid Houthi territorial offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, which has displaced over 112,000 people and triggered security alerts from the US State Department warning of rapid regional escalation. Despite extensive Saudi airstrikes aimed at blunting the Houthi advance, the cross border strikes represent the first direct aerial threat to the Saudi capital since the collapse of the 2022 truce, placing further strain on regional security and international energy markets.
