Missile launched against Saudi Arabia is intercepted in Taif

A ballistic missile launched against the city of Taif, in western Saudi Arabia, was intercepted and destroyed by the air defenses of the military coalition led by that country, according to the alliance that supports the internationally recognized Yemeni government.

The announcement was made by the coalition’s military spokesman, Turki al-Maliki, who attributed the launch to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, an Iran-allied movement that has been in conflict with Saudi Arabia.

According to the EFE agency, the projectile was headed for Taif, a city located approximately 90 kilometers east of Mecca, one of the main religious centers of Islam.

The incident occurs in a context of intensifying military operations between the Saudi coalition and the Houthis, who have claimed several attacks against strategic facilities in Saudi territory.

Missile against Taif was destroyed by Saudi defenses

Spokesperson Turki al-Maliki reported via the social network X that air defense systems managed to detect, intercept, and destroy the ballistic missile before it reached its target.

The official blamed the Houthis for the launch, whom the Saudi coalition considers responsible for a series of offensives against various cities in the kingdom.

The information released by the alliance did not specify whether the interception caused material damage or left any people affected in Taif.

This new episode increases concern regarding the security of Saudi cities, especially those near strategic facilities or places of religious importance.

Saudi Arabia reports new Houthi attacks

The interception of the missile against Taif occurred after other incidents recorded in Saudi Arabia during the same day.

The Saudi Civil Defense reported the fall of fragments from intercepted projectiles in Riyadh, the country’s capital, which caused material damage.

Previously, the military coalition had announced the destruction of two ballistic missiles aimed at that city.

These events are part of a series of attacks attributed to the Houthis, who have intensified their operations against Saudi targets.

Authorities are maintaining surveillance and defense measures in light of the possibility of further launches.

Houthis claim to have attacked strategic facilities

For his part, the Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, asserted that his forces carried out several operations against military and energy facilities in Saudi Arabia.

Among the mentioned targets is the Ras Tanura refinery, one of the main facilities of the Saudi state oil company Aramco, located in the Eastern Province.

Sarea stated that a ballistic missile struck that infrastructure. However, the report provided does not include independent confirmation of the damage or the alleged impact.

The Houthi spokesperson also claimed that their forces attacked the Saudi Ministry of Defense in Riyadh, and that the projectile had directly hit the target.

These statements correspond to claims by the rebels and do not constitute an independent verification of the results of the operations.

Attacks against airports and military bases

The Houthis also claimed to have launched ballistic missiles at two military transport aircraft in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

According to Yahya Sarea, one of the targets was located at Najran airport and the other at the King Khalid air base, located in Khamis Mushait.

The rebel movement also claimed that it used a drone to attack Abha International Airport.

According to their spokesperson, that operation caused the interruption of air traffic at the terminal.

However, the available information does not allow for an independent confirmation of the scope of those attacks or their operational consequences.

Conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis intensifies

The confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis is related to the prolonged conflict in Yemen.

The rebels have controlled the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, as well as large areas of the north and west of the country since 2014.

Saudi Arabia has been intervening militarily in Yemen since 2015 at the head of a coalition that supports the internationally recognized Yemeni government.

Saudi involvement and the Iranian support attributed to the Houthis have turned the conflict into one of the main centers of regional tension.

Recent missile launches and drone attacks reflect a new phase of confrontations that affects both military installations and strategic infrastructure.

As operations continue, the Saudi coalition maintains its air defense systems in the face of possible new threats.