RIYADH – A sudden security alert cut through the day in Saudi Arabia on Thursday as authorities reported intercepting six ballistic missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi group.
Saudi Arabian forces claim intercepting six ballistic missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement, as emergency warnings were briefly activated across several parts of the kingdom, including the holy city of Makkah.
Saudi-led coalition said the missiles were intercepted before they could reach their intended targets in Taif and Yanbu. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Maliki said Saudi air defenses had successfully thwarted the attacks and warned that further Houthi escalation would face a firm response. The missile interceptions were accompanied by a rapid sequence of civil-defense warnings that put residents and visitors in several regions on alert.
Makkah, Jeddah, Taif, Yanbu and Tabuk were among the areas covered by the warnings. Saudi authorities urged people to follow official instructions, move to safe locations and avoid approaching or filming areas affected by the security situation.
Makkah Put on Alert
The alert issued for Makkah was particularly significant because the city is home to Islam’s holiest sites.
Saudi Arabia’s National Early Warning Platform warned residents of a potential danger, prompting people to take shelter and remain in protected areas until the warning was lifted. The alerts were later cancelled after authorities determined that the immediate danger had passed.
Civil-defense guidance instructed people indoors to stay away from windows and move toward more protected areas of buildings. Those caught outside were advised to enter a nearby building or seek shelter behind a solid structure.
The warnings came amid an increasingly tense security environment in the kingdom, where missile and drone attacks attributed to the Houthis have intensified in recent weeks.
The recent missile interceptions are the latest episode in a rapidly escalating cycle of attacks involving Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. Saudi authorities have reported a series of recent missile and drone incidents. Earlier this month, Saudi officials said Houthi attacks injured civilians in several Saudi cities, while civil-defense warnings were issued across parts of the kingdom.
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The situation became even more sensitive last week when Saudi Arabia said it had destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it entered the restricted airspace surrounding the holy city. The Houthis denied targeting Makkah. Against that backdrop, Thursday’s alerts briefly placed several major Saudi population centers on heightened security footing.
The confrontation is also unfolding beyond Saudi territory. Houthis have expanded their military activity around Yemen’s Red Sea coast, raising concerns over the Bab al-Mandab Strait — one of the world’s most strategically important maritime passages.
The waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as a major route for international shipping and energy transportation. Any sustained disruption could affect commercial shipping and the movement of oil and other goods between the Middle East, Asia and Europe. The broader conflict has also become intertwined with regional tensions involving Iran and other Middle Eastern actors, increasing the potential consequences of attacks launched from Yemen.
For Riyadh, Thursday’s events represent another direct challenge to its airspace and security infrastructure. Al-Maliki said the Saudi-led coalition would respond firmly to what it described as Houthi escalation and violations. For residents, however, the immediate message was simpler: seek shelter, follow official warnings and stay away from danger zones.
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