Saudis intercept more drones as conflict with Houthis spirals

Dawn · 22/10/2026، 2:41:20 AM

• Coalition downs six drones launched towards cities, including Madina, as interception debris kills two • Rebels deny ‘deep operations’ in Saudi territory • Iran says Egypt entering Yemen war makes situation ‘more difficult’ • Macron arrives in Riyadh for ‘surprise solidarity visit’ RIYADH: As the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement continues to escalate, the Saudi-led coalition on Wednesday said it had intercepted six drones launched towards the kingdom, including in the Madina region. “Four drones launched towards the kingdom have been intercepted and destroyed,” coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki posted on X, adding in a second post that the interceptions took place in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern region as well as Madina. Al-Malki, who did not specify who was behind the launches, later said drones had been intercepted, also in the eastern region. The Houthis denied having targeted the kingdom, with military spokesman Yahya Saree saying their forces had not carried out any “deep” operations in Saudi territory. The Saudi energy ministry said that falling debris from the successful interception of a drone targeting an oil facility “resulted in the deaths of two individuals, a Filipino and a Nepali, and injuries to two others”. It did not say who launched the drone aimed at Shaybah oil field near the UAE border. Within Yemen, the Houthis claimed an attack on Wednesday on a military camp near the airport in the southern city of Aden, where the Yemeni government is based. “Our armed forces were able to target the Saudi enemy’s operations room in the Badr camp in Aden with a ballistic missile,” Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement. A government military source and a local official told Reuters the group also attacked Riyan airport in the southeastern coastal city of Mukalla. “The Houthis used missiles and drones to target a military base housing forces from the Saudi-led coalition at Al Rayyan airport,” one of the officials, speaki