Saudi Arabia warned of a “hostile aerial threat” and issued emergency alerts across the kingdom overnight on Friday, according to Al Jazeera. On Saturday, at least one explosion was heard in Riyadh, with residents near the airport reporting a large plume of black smoke later in the morning. Saudi authorities reported no casualties or damage.

This was the first air raid alert in Riyadh since the escalation in fighting with the Houthis in Yemen began in July; the Saudi spokesman said the Houthis are escalating their attempts to target civilians and civilian infrastructure in the capital. He affirmed the coalition’s right to take “appropriate” action to deter the Houthis, in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Houthis Claim Targets in Riyadh and Yanbu

Earlier on Saturday, Houthi fighters in Yemen claimed they attacked “sensitive” sites in Riyadh and an Aramco oil facility in the western coastal city of Yanbu, according to a statement shared by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree. Saree said the attacks were carried out using cruise and ballistic missiles as well as drones.

Yasmeen al-Eryani, executive director for knowledge production at the Sana’a Center think tank, told Al Jazeera that the Houthis appear to be in control of the escalation. “You could see that the Houthis are determining the timelines and the levels of the escalation,” she said, and “Depending on the current situation, it seems that the Houthis are the ones in control.”

Saudi Defenses Intercept 7 Missiles; One Patriot Fails

According to the Missile Threat – CSIS Missile Defense Project, Houthi militants fired seven ballistic missiles into Saudi Arabia on March 25 — Three missiles targeted Riyadh, two aimed at Jizan, and one each at Khamis Mushait and Najran. Houthi media confirmed the launches, identifying at least one of the missiles as the Burkan-H2, with airports as the primary target.

Saudi air defense forces reportedly “intercepted and destroyed” all seven missiles, although this claim cannot be independently confirmed — At least one Patriot interceptor failed after launch and crashed in the Al-Malqa neighborhood in Riyadh. Another appeared to have detonated shortly after being launched; an Egyptian resident in Riyadh was killed by shrapnel, and at least two others were injured.

Multiple videos were shared showing the aftermath and intercept attempts, One video showed a crowd gathering around what appeared to be a Houthi ballistic missile fuselage lying on a street in Riyadh. Another showed a failing Patriot interceptor turning sharply leftward and falling to the ground in Riyadh’s Al-Malqa neighborhood, but a third video showed three Patriot interceptors, two in flight and the remains of another. The two in flight appeared to have conducted successful intercepts, while the earlier missile appeared to have detonated prematurely, resulting in large, flaming debris.

Escalation and Regional Tensions

The incident adds to the ongoing tensions between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi group in Yemen; the attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets raise concerns about the potential for further escalation. The Saudi government has consistently denied civilian casualties and damage in such attacks, while Houthi claims of successful strikes remain unverified.

Regional and international actors continue to monitor the situation closely, as the conflict in Yemen remains a flashpoint for broader geopolitical tensions. The use of ballistic missiles and cruise missiles by the Houthis highlights the growing capabilities of the group, as well as the challenges faced by the Saudi-led coalition in countering such threats.