Houthi rebels launch missile and drone attack on Saudi capital Riyadh

The Iran-aligned Houthi movement said it had targeted Saudi Aramco infrastructure in the Saudi capital with a coordinated barrage of ballistic missiles and drone strikes. The attack, if confirmed, marks a significant escalation in the yearslong conflict between the rebels and the Saudi-led coalition that has been conducting airstrikes in Yemen since 2015.

According to Houthi statements, the operation was conducted in response to what they described as repeated Saudi attacks on Sanaa, Yemen's largest city, and other provinces under their control. The group has previously claimed responsibility for similar strikes on Saudi energy infrastructure and military targets.

Saudi Arabia has not immediately issued a statement regarding the reported attack. The kingdom's air defense systems have intercepted numerous projectiles launched by the Houthis in previous incidents, though the sophistication and frequency of such assaults have increased in recent years.

The Houthi campaign against Saudi targets has become a persistent feature of the conflict in Yemen, where the rebel group controls much of the country's most populous regions. International observers have expressed concern about the escalating nature of the attacks and their potential impact on regional security and global energy markets.