Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed it struck sensitive targets in Riyadh and an Aramco facility in Yanbu using missiles and drones. The Saudi-led coalition stated that a ballistic missile aimed at the capital was intercepted and destroyed at dawn on Saturday, and reported that attempted attacks on civilians and infrastructure in Bisha, Taif, Farasan, and Yanbu were also thwarted. Residents near King Khalid International Airport reported explosions and a plume of black smoke, but Saudi authorities confirmed there were no casualties or damage.
The escalation prompted condemnation from Jordan, the United Nations, and the Gulf Cooperation Council regarding attacks on civilian objects and threats to regional stability. On Sunday, Saudi and other Gulf equities opened lower as investors reacted to the overnight claims and energy-infrastructure risks. Meanwhile, inside Yemen, Saudi-backed government forces reported twelve Houthis killed in Marib, along with thirteen soldier deaths resulting from clashes in Taiz and Lahj over two days.