Full Breakdown
Saudi-led Coalition Strikes Houthi Missile Sites Amid Fresh Attacks on Riyadh Airport
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Core Event: Houthi Missile Launches Target Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport
On October 25, 2026, the Iran-backed Houthi movement announced that it had launched a ballistic missile at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, claiming the strike “achieved its target.” The group said the operation was part of three coordinated attacks that also hit the King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait and a naval base in Jazan. Earlier in the month, a Houthi missile strike on the same airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, the deadliest attack on Saudi soil in over a decade.
Background & Context
The Houthi insurgency seized Yemen’s capital Sanaa in September 2014, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognised Yemeni government. The conflict has persisted for over a decade, with periodic ceasefires collapsing and cross-border attacks intensifying since the summer of 2022. Recent months have seen a surge in Houthi missile and drone sorties against Saudi infrastructure, coinciding with broader regional tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Data & Statistics
- The coalition reported destroying four ballistic-missile launchers, a missile depot and five underground tunnels used for missile storage in Houthi-controlled areas (Saudi Press Agency, Oct 26).
- Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said the operation also eliminated two launchers in Sanaa, one of which had been used in the recent Riyadh attack.
- Interception figures differ: the Saudi Press Agency cited two drones and one ballistic missile intercepted en route to Riyadh; CNBC reported two drones and one ballistic missile plus 10 ballistic missiles aimed at southern Saudi regions; the Bastillepost source said 12 missiles and two drones were destroyed, including a ballistic missile toward Riyadh.
- Civil-defence officials confirmed two injuries from falling missile debris in Khamis Mushait and Ahad Rafidah, with damage to three residential buildings and seven vehicles.
Official Statements & Responses
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, also on X, warned airlines that the airport remained “unsafe” and a “military target,” urging carriers to avoid it. He described the Riyadh strike as a “successful” targeting of the airport and said the group had also hit oil-pumping stations with drones.
On-the-Ground Reports
Local civil-defence reports confirmed debris from intercepted missiles fell in the Mecca and Medina regions, prompting temporary alerts that were later lifted.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources disagree on the exact number of missiles intercepted: the Saudi Press Agency cites one ballistic missile and two drones; CNBC mentions one ballistic missile plus ten ballistic missiles aimed at southern cities; Bastillepost notes twelve missiles and two drones destroyed. No source provides a definitive tally for the Riyadh-bound missile, and casualty figures beyond the two injuries remain unspecified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We continue the process of dismantling the ballistic missile network of the terrorist Houthi militia,” — Turki Al-Malki, coalition spokesman
What’s Next
The coalition indicated that operations to dismantle Houthi missile infrastructure will continue, citing ongoing “self-defence” objectives. No specific future dates for further strikes or diplomatic engagements were disclosed in the available reports.