Saudi Air Defenses Intercept Two Ballistic Missiles and Two Houthi Drones Targeting Khamis Mushait and Riyadh on September 26

Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles and two drones launched by the Iran-backed Houthis early on Saturday, September 26, 2026, according to the Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen's Houthis. Major General Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, said the missiles were aimed at Khamis Mushait while the drones were intended for Riyadh. In posts on X, the coalition said it was monitoring and tracking a missile and drone threat toward the Kingdom but provided no further details. Saudi civil defense had sent alerts overnight for Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Jazan, which were lifted shortly after the interceptions. The strikes were the latest in a series of escalating Houthi attacks since July 2026, when renewed hostilities shattered a years-long truce and embroiled Yemen in the wider Middle East conflict. Since July 20, 2026, the Houthis have declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, hitting its tankers and territory and seizing swathes of Yemen's Red Sea coast, which is vital for Saudi oil exports. The attacks have targeted Saudi cities, energy infrastructure, and shipping, adding to pressures on global oil supplies caused by the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran and putting at risk the main alternative Red Sea route for Gulf exports while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted due to the broader conflict. The United Nations Security Council earlier condemned the escalating attacks, noting that the strikes have wounded civilians, including women and children.