Saudi Arabia Intercepts Five Houthi Ballistic Missiles

Saudi Arabian air defenses intercepted and destroyed five ballistic missiles launched by Iran-backed Houthis on Tuesday. Two missiles were intercepted over the capital, Riyadh, and three others targeted the eastern region. Saudi Civil Defense reported that falling shrapnel damaged a vehicle, a building, and a construction site in Riyadh.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed a missile directly hit the Saudi defense ministry headquarters and asserted that the Ras Tanoura refinery was also struck, though Saudi authorities did not comment on the refinery claim.

Simultaneously, the conflict escalated in Yemen. The Yemeni military conducted airstrikes against Houthi positions in the port city of Mokha and the Dhubab district. Houthi-run health officials accused Saudi-backed government forces of killing two people during a strike on a gas station near Taiz.

These military escalations occurred as the United States and the IAEA pressed Iran to meet its nuclear safeguard obligations during sessions at the UN Security Council.