The announcement was made on Monday by coalition spokesman Turki Al-Maliki. However, the coalition did not disclose how many missiles had been fired or provide further details about the interception.
Before the reported attack, Saudi authorities issued warnings of possible missile and drone strikes in several cities, including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Taif and Najran. The alerts were subsequently withdrawn, shortly before the coalition announced that it had intercepted a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis.
During the period of heightened alert, Saudi authorities urged members of the public not to film missile or drone attacks. Such restrictions are generally intended to prevent the circulation of sensitive security information, including footage that could reveal the location or timing of military operations.
The latest incident highlights continuing security concerns surrounding Saudi Arabia’s southern regions, which have previously been targeted by Houthi missile and drone operations. The use of ballistic missiles in the conflict has remained a major concern for regional security, particularly because of the potential threat to populated areas and critical infrastructure.
Houthis report casualties in Yemen air strikes
Meanwhile, the Houthis have accused the Saudi-led coalition of carrying out air strikes against a major port and an oil facility in Yemen’s Hodeidah province before the reported missile attack on Saudi Arabia.
According to the rebel group’s health authorities, seven people were injured in the strikes, all of whom were civilians.
Anis Al-Sabahi, a spokesman for the Houthi health ministry, provided details of the alleged attacks in a post on social media platform X on Monday.
He said the first strike targeted Ras Isa port, situated along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, injuring four civilians. A subsequent air strike hit an oil facility in the Bajil district, leaving three more people injured.
Al-Sabahi described the repeated targeting of oil installations and strategically important ports as a serious violation of international humanitarian law. He accused the coalition of attacking civilian infrastructure and putting the lives of ordinary Yemenis at risk.
He also alleged that the latest strikes represented another addition to what he described as a record of war crimes committed against Yemen’s civilian population and essential facilities.
The allegations, however, have not been independently verified, and no response from the Saudi-led coalition regarding the reported casualties and damage was included in the available information.
Strategic importance of the Red Sea coast
The reported attack on Ras Isa port has particular significance because of the strategic importance of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline. Ports and oil facilities play an important role in the country’s commercial activities, fuel supplies and wider economic infrastructure.
Yemen’s prolonged conflict has repeatedly threatened essential services and infrastructure, worsening the humanitarian situation in a country already facing severe economic and social difficulties.
The Red Sea is also a vital international shipping corridor connecting major markets in Asia, Europe and Africa. Any escalation of military activity around Yemen’s coastline can therefore raise concerns beyond the immediate conflict, particularly over maritime security and international trade.
The latest developments reflect the continuing volatility between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition. While Riyadh’s forces say they successfully intercepted the missile, the Houthis’ allegations of civilian casualties in Hodeidah have added another dimension to the confrontation.
With details of the missile attack and the reported air strikes still limited, the full extent of the damage and the circumstances surrounding the incidents remain unclear.
