Missile debris lands in three Saudi cities

Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles on Saturday as they approached the regions of Mecca and Medina. The Civil Defense agency reported that the projectiles originated from Yemen and were launched by Houthi forces. Debris from the interceptions fell in three locations: Jeddah, Taif, and Rabigh.

The interceptions followed a series of Houthi attacks earlier that day. The group targeted key infrastructure, including a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu and the Rabigh oil refinery. Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the Houthis, stated that his forces also aimed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. He added that King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Najran airport, and an air base in Khamis Mushait were included in the strike package.

Hostilities continued in Yemen as well. The Houthi-linked Saba News Agency reported that the National Commission for Human Rights condemned Saudi strikes in the capital, Sanaa. The commission described the events in the Asr neighborhood as a massacre. It also cited an attack on a cement factory in the Hamdan district of Sanaa Governorate.

These events occurred while the US State Department updated its travel advisory for Israel. The notice, issued on Friday, warned of a heightened threat from Iran-backed Houthi terrorists. The department cited previous Houthi attacks on Saudi civilian airports and critical infrastructure. Those prior strikes had resulted in civilian casualties and major travel disruptions. The advisory kept Israel's travel classification at Level 3, which urges US citizens to reconsider travel due to terrorism and unrest. Risk indicators for specific areas of the country remained unchanged.