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The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen announced that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed the ballistic missile launched by the Iran-backed Houthi militia toward Khamis Mushait, according to a statement from coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Maliki. Al-Maliki posted on X that the missile was neutralized before it could reach its target in the city, which is home to a major airbase in the kingdom’s southwest. The development marked the latest in a string of Houthi attempts to strike Saudi territory that have intensified since the breakdown of a long-standing truce earlier this year.
Three people sustained minor injuries when the airports of Najran and Jazan were targeted in separate attacks the previous night, the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority reported. Coalition forces have grown accustomed to such incidents, with air defenses consistently engaging incoming threats from Yemen. Arab News reported that the latest interception occurred as part of broader operations to safeguard civilian areas and infrastructure along the border.
A series of similar interceptions has unfolded over recent weeks, with the coalition destroying multiple ballistic missiles and drones aimed at Riyadh, Taif, Yanbu and other locations, according to statements compiled by Al Arabiya and Al Jazeera. In one September 2026 episode, debris from an intercepted projectile caused material damage to a school in Najran though no casualties resulted, Saudi civil defense officials said at the time. These events reflect a pattern of escalation that has persisted despite international calls for de-escalation in the Yemen conflict.
Major General Al-Maliki has repeatedly characterized the Houthi actions as deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian objects, a stance echoed in coalition releases that cite the group’s obstinacy. One such announcement referenced the coalition’s inherent right to take appropriate measures in accordance with international humanitarian law to deter the militia’s behavior. The coalition continues to track launch platforms inside Yemen using intelligence assets, with Al-Maliki confirming that follow-up strikes on those sites remain under consideration.
The United Nations Security Council has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia in the strongest terms, affirming the kingdom’s right to self-defense under international law, a position noted in coverage by Asharq Al-Awsat. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree has claimed responsibility for several of the launches, sometimes asserting that missiles reached their targets despite coalition reports of successful interceptions. The Iran-backed group has also targeted maritime traffic in the Red Sea, further complicating regional stability.
Yemeni government forces, supported by the coalition, have conducted hundreds of airstrikes and precision operations against Houthi positions across multiple fronts in the past month, Arab News figures show. These include areas in Marib, Sanaa and Saada, where the militia maintains significant presence. The sustained military activity underscores the fragile security environment that has defined the conflict since its intensification in late 2024.
