Escalating Houthi missile and drone attacks target Saudi Arabia

On November 10 and 11, 2026, the Saudi-led coalition reported a series of intercepted missile and drone attacks launched by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels against various locations in Saudi Arabia. The coalition successfully destroyed several ballistic and cruise missiles aimed at Riyadh, as well as drones targeting the southern region and the holy city of Mecca. Saudi Civil Defence issued emergency alerts for cities including Taif, Yanbu, and Khamis Mushait, though officials later declared that the immediate threats had passed.

While the Saudi-led coalition reported that drones were headed toward Mecca, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree denied these claims, asserting that their operations specifically target military bases and oil facilities. Saree further claimed a strike on an oil pumping station in the industrial hub of Yanbu, an assertion that remains unconfirmed by Saudi authorities. These events represent a significant escalation in hostilities following Houthi territorial advances near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in September.

The recent surge in violence follows a pattern of heightened military activity as both sides continue to exchange fire. The coalition previously confirmed the destruction of a Houthi facility dedicated to the assembly of ballistic missile components, signaling a sustained effort to neutralize threats to regional infrastructure and maritime shipping routes.