Saudi coalition forces intercepted two Houthi‑launched drones that were heading toward Riyadh on Saturday, ramming them with air‑defence fire.
In the same operation, coalition air defences destroyed a ballistic missile launched from the Houthi‑controlled island of Hodeidah, aimed at the Khamis Mushait air base.
Hezam Alasad, a member of the Houthi Political Bureau, warned on the same day that the operation was a “small‑scale rehearsal for a full‑scale escalation.”
The Houthi‑backed group has maintained a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia since 2015, disrupting tanker traffic and driving up regional energy prices.
Saudi officials said the latest interceptions are part of a broader effort to blunt Houthi missile and drone attacks, and the coalition is planning a counter‑offensive over the coming days.