Military coalition confirms incoming barrage neutralized across western Saudi Arabia; Civil Defense confirms potential threat subsided.
RIYADH — Saudi air defense forces intercepted and destroyed six ballistic missiles fired toward the western cities of Taif and Yanbu by Yemen’s Houthi movement on Thursday.
The strikes were neutralized before reaching populated or industrial zones, said Major General Turki Al Malki, spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen.
Al Malki warned that the coalition would respond forcefully to cross-border strikes targeting civilians and critical infrastructure. The coalition did not report any casualties or property destruction resulting from falling shrapnel following the mid-air demolitions.
The operation prompted regional safety protocols across western and northern governorates. The Saudi General Directorate of Civil Defense issued public advisory notices before announcing Thursday afternoon that the direct security threat had ended across Yanbu, Taif, Jeddah, Tabuk, and Makkah. Authorities urged residents to remain observant and adhere to emergency safety directives issued through official channels.
The cross-border salvo highlights ongoing volatile regional security conditions along the Red Sea corridor and Arabian Peninsula. Yanbu houses major petroleum refineries, petrochemical operations, and export terminals on the Red Sea coast, while Taif is a strategic highland population center in the Makkah Province.
Saudi air defense batteries—principally Patriot surface-to-air missile systems—have intercepted hundreds of incoming ballistic threats and explosive drones fired from Yemen over past campaigns. Coalition command reiterated that defense systems remain deployed at highest readiness to protect demographic centers, civilian maritime transit, and energy logistics.
