Saudi air defences intercept Houthi barrage near Mecca

Shrapnel from two intercepted ballistic missiles fell in Jeddah, Taif, Rabigh, and Wadi Al-Mughammas in Mecca province, while a drone and another ballistic missile were intercepted over Riyadh. By midday Sunday, coalition forces had also intercepted a cruise missile targeting Khamis Mushait, with warning sirens blaring across Taif and Jazan. In total, 10 ballistic missiles directed at the southern region were intercepted.

The attacks, which began on Saturday evening, targeted civilian and military infrastructure and triggered widespread civil defence alerts across the kingdom. The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, warned civilians to stay away from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, stating that the airport is a military target. He also announced seven operations targeting Saudi oil facilities and military bases.

The Saudi-led coalition has faced waves of Houthi missile and drone strikes in recent weeks, including one on October 10 that killed 13 people and wounded hundreds. In response to the latest attacks, Riyadh announced that international flights from King Khalid International Airport would resume from Terminal 2 on Sunday, while Terminal 1 would be designated for domestic flights.

International condemnation

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General, Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, condemned the strikes, stating that they represented “a grave violation of the sanctity of the Holy Sites and a provocation to the sentiments of Muslims worldwide.” The Houthis, a Zaydi Shia group, have denied targeting Muslim holy sites in Saudi Arabia.

Escalating conflict in Yemen

Yemen has been in a state of war since Houthi forces captured the capital Sanaa in September 2014, forcing the government to flee south. After a brief ceasefire, fighting intensified after government forces attacked Sanaa International Airport to prevent a Houthi delegation arriving from Tehran. The Houthis then launched a surprise offensive in September, capturing Yemen’s western coast, including the city of Mocha.

Forces aligned with the internationally recognised government launched “Operation Dawn of Yemen” on October 5, aimed at retaking territories lost to the Houthis. On Sunday, Yemen’s armed forces said the military had carried out 736 strikes on Houthi positions over the past 24 hours, leading to 307 people being “neutralised” and the destruction of 68 military vehicles.

Humanitarian crisis

Amid the military escalation, the Rasd Organization for Rights and Freedoms has warned of the dire humanitarian situation in the city of Taiz, which is under a Houthi siege. The group reported that about 1,110 kidney failure patients face the risks of a shortage of dialysis supplies, given the need for about 120 dialysis sessions daily along with 192 patients in intensive care units and 154 children in incubators.