Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted two Houthi missiles aimed at Khamis Mushait

RIYADH — The Saudi-led coalition said early on Sunday, 18 October 2026, that it had intercepted and destroyed two missiles launched by Yemen's Houthi group toward the Khamis Mushait area of southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki announced the interceptions in a post on X. Anadolu Agency described the projectiles as ballistic missiles. Middle East Eye reported the statement without specifying the missile type.

According to Middle East Eye, citing al-Maliki, coalition forces also intercepted and destroyed a drone in the Riyadh region. The Saudi Press Agency reported the same drone interception.

Alerts issued and withdrawn

Shortly before the announcement, Saudi Civil Defence issued "potential danger" alerts through its national early warning system, Anadolu reported. The alerts covered the capital, Riyadh, and the southwestern cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait. Anadolu said they were later lifted.

Middle East Eye reported that Civil Defence had issued and then withdrew an alert for Khamis Mushait. The sources did not report any casualties or damage from the latest interceptions.

Earlier interceptions

On Saturday, al-Maliki said coalition forces had intercepted and destroyed four drones over several hours in the Riyadh region, the Eastern Province and southern Saudi Arabia, according to Anadolu and The New Arab.

Anadolu reported that the coalition also released footage it said showed strikes destroying two ballistic missile launchers in Saada, in northern Yemen. The coalition said the launchers had been used to fire missiles toward Saudi Arabia. Zenga News could not independently verify the footage.

Media affiliated with the Houthis reported on Saturday that Saudi airstrikes beginning overnight had killed at least 12 people, according to The New Arab. The coalition has not commented on that figure in the material reviewed.

Egypt's position

Egypt, which is also a coalition member, said it was ready to help Saudi Arabia. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Cairo was willing to "carry out any measure to protect" the kingdom if its leaders asked, The New Arab reported.

Al-Sisi said Egypt was not seeking to intervene in regional wars. He said it was "inconceivable" for Cairo to stand by while Saudi Arabia was "harmed or its security and stability threatened." He added: "We are speaking only about defence."

Background

Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition since March 2015 in support of Yemen's internationally recognised government. The Houthis have controlled the capital, Sanaa, and several other provinces since September 2014, according to Anadolu.

Anadolu said military escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has continued since July. It cited attacks on civilian aviation facilities and energy infrastructure in the kingdom.

The New Arab said Yemen's conflict flared again in July after a years-long hiatus. It reported that Saudi Arabia has since faced sustained missile and drone attacks on oil installations, tankers and transit hubs. According to the outlet, an attack on Riyadh's airport last week killed 13 people.

The Houthis did not appear in the available material to have commented on the latest launches. The sources did not say where the missiles were fired from or what the intended targets were.