Yemen’s Houthis have claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks targeting what they described as “sensitive targets” in the Saudi capital Riyadh and facilities belonging to oil giant Saudi Aramco in the western coastal city of Yanbu.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on X that the group conducted two separate operations using “a large number of ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones.”
According to Saree, one operation targeted “sensitive targets” in Riyadh, while the second was directed at Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu.
Saudi authorities had not commented on the Houthi claims at the time of the report, and the extent of any damage resulting from the claimed strikes remained unclear.
Earlier on Saturday, Saudi Civil Defense warnings were issued in Riyadh for the first time during the latest series of alerts. Two warnings were sent in the capital and another two in Al-Kharj province. Authorities did not identify the specific threat or initially report casualties or damage associated with those warnings.
The alerts followed a broader series of warnings across Saudi Arabia. On Friday, Civil Defense authorities announced that the danger had passed in seven cities and provinces extending from the southwest to the northwest of the kingdom.
On Thursday, Saudi authorities said one person was killed and two others injured by falling debris after a Houthi drone was intercepted and destroyed over the western city of Taif. Buildings and vehicles were also damaged.
The Houthis announced what they called a “maritime blockade” of Saudi Arabia on July 20 and have subsequently claimed missile and drone attacks against Saudi-linked vessels and sites.
Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government since March 2015 against the Houthis, who have controlled the capital Sanaa and several other provinces since 2014.