Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted six ballistic missiles aimed at Taif and Yanbu
Saudi-led coalition forces say they intercepted six ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthis towards the Saudi cities of Taif and Yanbu on Thursday. The coalition said the missiles were destroyed before reaching their targets, with Saudi air defences involved in the interceptions. There was no immediate claim of responsibility from the Houthis or any other group.
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The coalition's spokesman, Major General Turki al-Malki, said the missiles were directed at Taif and Yanbu, a strategically important port city on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast. Separate reporting said an air defence system operated by Greek military personnel in Saudi Arabia intercepted a ballistic missile and a drone in the wider Yanbu region. A Greek security source said the Patriot system launched two missiles, while a second source confirmed the account.
Yanbu is significant because its port is a key outlet for Saudi crude when shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted. The wider area also includes major oil refining facilities, making it a sensitive location for Saudi energy security. Earlier on Thursday, Saudi Arabia's civil defence issued alerts warning of potential danger in Mecca, Tabuk, Jeddah, Yanbu and Taif before later saying the threat had passed.
The incident adds to a pattern of cross-border attacks linked to the Yemen conflict and the long-running confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. The group has previously been accused by Saudi authorities of launching drones and missiles towards the kingdom, particularly in the south. Last week, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a drone launched towards Mecca, an accusation the Houthis denied.
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The latest interceptions also come after the Houthis said they had stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia following a naval blockade declaration in July. The report of a Greek-operated Patriot system being used in the Yanbu area underlines the international dimension of Saudi air defence arrangements. It also highlights the vulnerability of strategic infrastructure along the kingdom's western coast, where shipping and energy facilities are closely watched.
It remains unclear whether the Houthis will respond publicly to the coalition's claim or whether any damage was caused before the missiles were intercepted. The separate reports have not yet been independently verified in full, and officials have not given details on the origin of the missile and drone intercepted near Yanbu. Further statements from Saudi authorities, the coalition, or the Houthis would be needed to clarify the scale and intent of the attack.
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