Saudi Coalition Intercepts Houthi Missiles as EU Postpones Summit

The Saudi-led military coalition intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile targeting Riyadh and a cruise missile over the Medina region on October 14 and 15, 2026. The coalition also reported destroying a drone over the Eastern Province. The ballistic missile strike on Riyadh triggered emergency alerts for residents to take shelter and followed a series of attacks on Saudi airports between October 5 and 11 that killed 20 people.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree denied targeting Medina, citing a vow to spare holy cities, and called the coalition's claims a "shameless and brazen lie." However, the Houthis claimed responsibility for launching five missiles at the presidential palace complex in Aden, Yemen, which killed two security guards and wounded six others. The Houthis further claimed to have struck a Saudi Typhoon fighter jet over Saada province, while the Yemeni army reported repelling a Houthi attack on Jabal Han mountain in Taiz.

The United Nations Security Council condemned the Houthi attacks as "reckless" and affirmed Saudi Arabia's right to self-defense. Due to the sustained military escalation, the European Council postponed the second Summit between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council, which was originally scheduled for October 24 in Riyadh.