Saudi coalition intercepts drones over Riyadh amid Houthi strikes

On November 2, 2026, the Saudi-led military coalition announced the interception and destruction of two unmanned aerial vehicles in the Riyadh region. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki confirmed the operation via social media, though he did not explicitly attribute the drone launch to the Houthi movement in his statement.

Simultaneously, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for a series of attacks conducted over the preceding 48 hours. Military spokesman Yahya Saria reported that the group targeted the Dammam airport with two drones, struck an early warning radar in Jizan, and attacked a transport aircraft at the Jizan airport. These strikes are part of an ongoing escalation following the Houthi seizure of territory in western Yemen in September, which strengthened their control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital shipping lane connecting the Suez Canal to global markets.

The Houthis have maintained control over the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and significant portions of the country for over a decade. The Saudi-led coalition continues to support the internationally recognized government of Yemen, marking a prolonged period of conflict characterized by cross-border drone and missile exchanges between the belligerent parties.