On Thursday, Major General Turki al‑Maliki posted on X that the coalition had intercepted a cruise missile over the Medina region, a claim the Houthis quickly dismissed. Al‑Maliki did not disclose the missile's intended target.
Saree wrote that no Houthi strike had been launched toward Saudi territory, calling the coalition's allegation a "great falsehood" and insisting the group had avoided the cities of Mecca and Medina.
The incident follows the coalition's earlier destruction of a drone over the Eastern Province and the downing of a ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia, which leads a six‑nation coalition, has accused the Iran‑aligned group of targeting holy cities, though the Houthis claim they steer clear of Mecca and Medina.
The region’s security forces reported no damage after the interception, but residents near the Prophet’s Mosque remain on edge as the coalition signals it will intensify air operations against Houthi missile sites.