A Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over Riyadh and across eastern and southern Saudi Arabia in recent hours, the latest in a string of Houthi attacks targeting the kingdom's airports and oil facilities.
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki said the force intercepted and destroyed the drones, and released footage described as showing coalition aircraft intercepting cruise missiles and UAVs and striking Houthi ballistic missile launch sites.
Riyadh's King Khalid Airport has come under at least 20 attacks since fighting broke out in July between the Houthis and Yemen's Saudi-backed government, including one that killed 13 people, according to released figures.
On Thursday, at least five people were killed in missile strikes near the presidential palace in Aden, where the internationally recognised Yemeni government is based. The Yemeni government blamed the Houthis for that attack. On Friday, the government said the Houthis had fired two missiles at Aden airport, while government forces said they had mounted an offensive in Marib province, northeast of Sanaa.
Saudi Arabia is backing the Yemeni government's counter-offensive, dubbed "Yemen's Dawn," and has carried out airstrikes against the Houthis, including on an oil facility in Sanaa.
Egypt weighs support
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said the same day that Cairo was ready to "take any measures to protect" Saudi Arabia if the kingdom requested it. He insisted Egypt did not seek to intervene in regional wars, but said standing by while Saudi Arabia was harmed was "unimaginable."
"I am not talking about engaging in combat or attacking anyone. We are only talking about defence," el-Sisi said. Egypt's parliament is due to hold an emergency session on Sunday at the president's request.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran supported "a comprehensive political process as the only practical and sustainable way" to resolve the conflict. Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of encouraging the Houthis to escalate.
As tensions rise, several embassies in Saudi Arabia have restricted travel and advised citizens not to use airports. Saudi Arabia's Education Ministry also extended online learning for students in Riyadh and nearby Diriyah after the recent Houthi attacks.
