Saudi-led coalition intercepts and destroys drone in eastern Saudi Arabia

The Saudi-led coalition said early on Thursday that it intercepted and destroyed a drone over Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki announced the interception without providing further details, including the drone’s origin.

Hours earlier, Yemen’s Houthi group claimed to have struck King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh with a ballistic missile, without providing details of casualties or damage.

The coalition said Wednesday that it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis toward Riyadh after warning alerts were activated in the capital and nearby Al-Kharj governorate.

Between October 5 and 11, 10 attacks targeted five Saudi airports, killing 20 people, injuring hundreds and disrupting flights. King Khalid International Airport was targeted five times, accounting for 18 of the deaths.

Read: Houthis claim ballistic missile strike on Riyadh airport

The developments come amid a continued military escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis since July, including attacks on civilian aviation facilities and energy infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen’s government against the Houthis since 2015. The group has controlled the capital Sanaa and several provinces since 2014.

Yemen’s Houthis claim missile hit Saudi fighter jet over northern Yemen

Yemen's Houthi group claimed late on Wednesday that it had struck a Saudi fighter jet with a surface-to-air missile over the northern Yemeni province of Saada.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the missile directly hit the aircraft, putting it at risk of crashing. Saree claimed the aircraft was a Saudi Typhoon fighter jet that had taken off from an airbase in Taif, western Saudi Arabia.

Saudi authorities did not immediately comment on the claim. Earlier Wednesday, the Houthis also claimed to have targeted King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh with a ballistic missile.

Read more: Strait of Hormuz traffic plunges once again amid new wave of Houthi attacks

The claims came amid a series of attacks on Saudi airports. 

An Anadolu tally based on official statements showed that 10 attacks targeted five airports between Oct. 5 and 11, killing 20 people, injuring hundreds and disrupting air travel.

Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government against the Houthis since 2015.

The group has controlled Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and several other provinces since 2014.

The latest escalation began in July following the collapse of a truce reached in 2022.