RIYADH: Saudi air defences intercepted a missile attack on Riyadh early Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition said. The interception came hours after witnesses saw flames and black smoke near King Khalid International Airport.
Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said forces destroyed a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthis toward the Saudi capital. He said the interception caused no damage.
The coalition also said Saudi defences thwarted Houthi attacks targeting Bisha, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu. However, the statement did not link the intercepted Riyadh missile to the fire near the airport.
Reuters footage showed a large column of black smoke near King Khalid International Airport. Flames were visible behind what appeared to be fuel tanks, while Saudi authorities had issued overnight warnings about an aerial threat.
Iran wants the war between Saudi Arabia and Yemen to end and believes Yemen also seeks an agreement with Riyadh, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei told Al Jazeera on Saturday.
On Saturday morning, a large plume of smoke was visible near Riyadh airport after explosions were heard in the capital.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have launched several missile-and-drone attacks against Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.
Local authorities declared their first air-raid… pic.twitter.com/XRXWhs1dRu
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) September 19, 2026Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed an attack on Saudi Arabia’s capital Saturday, apparently targeting jet-fuel storage at Riyadh’s airport.
The assault marked the first direct attack on Riyadh in months as the group increased pressure on the kingdom’s Red Sea oil export route.
Read: Houthi US Intervention: Trump Says Group Asked US to Stay Out
Witnesses saw black smoke at King Khalid International Airport during the latest escalation in attacks targeting the kingdom.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree later said the group had launched missiles and drones at what he called “sensitive” sites in Riyadh.
He did not specifically identify the airport as a target. Saree also claimed an attack on Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu, a Red Sea oil-export hub.
Read: Saudi Houthi Strategy Faces Pressure As Yemen Fighting Grows
At a September 15 United Nations Security Council meeting, officials said attacks on Saudi cities and civilian infrastructure while urging protection of civilians and renewed efforts to contain the Yemen conflict.
