Houthi Missile Debris Scatters Across Three Saudi Cities

Debris from two ballistic missiles fell in Jeddah, Taif, and Rabigh on Saturday after Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense intercepted projectiles launched by Yemen's Houthis. The missiles were aimed at the regions surrounding Mecca and Medina. The Saudi agency confirmed the interceptions but did not report immediate damage from the falling fragments in its initial update.

The intercepts followed a broader Houthi offensive announced on the same day. The group claimed attacks on multiple Saudi targets, including a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu, the Rabigh oil refinery, and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that forces also targeted King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Najran airport, and an air base in Khamis Mushait.

The exchange occurred amid rising tensions in the region. Earlier on Saturday, the Houthi-linked Saba News Agency reported that Yemen’s National Commission for Human Rights condemned Saudi airstrikes on Sanaa. The agency described a "massacre" in the Asr neighborhood and a strike on a cement factory in the Hamdan district.

Washington has also signaled concern. The US State Department updated its travel advisory for Israel on Friday, warning of an increased threat from Iran-backed Houthi terrorists. The notice cited potential for rapid escalation and referenced previous Houthi attacks on Saudi civilian airports and infrastructure that caused casualties and travel disruptions. The update kept Israel’s travel advisory at Level 3, urging US citizens to reconsider travel due to terrorism and unrest.

The State Department noted that risk indicators and restrictions for certain areas of Israel remained unchanged. The warning highlighted the pattern of Houthi strikes on critical infrastructure in the region.