# Saudi Arabia says it downed Houthi missiles aimed at Riyadh and Mecca; Houthis say Saudi strikes killed 11

Conflict & Security · 24 October 2026 · Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
URL: https://connectthedots.news/event/2026-10-24-saudi-arabia-says-it-downed-houthi-missiles-aimed-at-riyadh-and-mecca

> Saudi authorities said they intercepted Houthi missiles fired toward Riyadh, Taif, Yanbu and the Mecca and Medina regions, while Houthi media said Saudi airstrikes killed 11 people in Sanaa.

Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki said air defences destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile fired toward Riyadh early on 24 October, after two explosions were heard in the capital, and a drone over the Eastern Province. The coalition said it later intercepted two missiles aimed at Taif and Yanbu, and civil defence briefly issued "potential danger" alerts for four western regions including Mecca. [2][3][4]

Saudi Civil Defense said that evening it intercepted two ballistic missiles fired toward the Mecca and Medina regions, with debris falling in Jeddah, Taif and Rabigh. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had targeted Saudi Aramco's facility in Yanbu, the Rabigh refinery and airports in Riyadh, Dammam and Najran. The Houthis denied targeting Mecca and Medina; Saree called the Saudi claim "a great and huge lie", Gulf News reported. [1][5]

Houthi media said Saudi airstrikes on Sanaa killed 11 people, including strikes on a house and on housing for cement-factory workers, and reported about 20 strikes on Mocha. These figures could not be independently verified; reported tolls ranged from three to 12 across outlets. The coalition did not comment on the strikes in the reports reviewed. [2][5][6]

The Saudi-Houthi war, dormant since a 2022 ceasefire, resumed in July, AFP reported. The US State Department updated travel advisories citing Houthi threats, and Iran's envoy to Pakistan said Tehran would study the Mecca defence pact signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey after the renewed Houthi attacks. [1][2][7]

## Who was involved

- [Houthis](https://connectthedots.news/org/houthis): Claimed strikes on Saudi oil sites and airports; denied targeting Mecca and Medina [1][5]
- [Turki al-Malki](https://connectthedots.news/person/turki-al-malki): Announced interceptions of missiles aimed at Riyadh, Taif and Yanbu [2][3]
- [Yahya Saree](https://connectthedots.news/person/yahya-saree): Listed Houthi targets in Saudi Arabia and rejected the Mecca claim [1][5]
- [Saudi Aramco](https://connectthedots.news/org/saudi-aramco): Its Yanbu facility was named as a Houthi target [1]
- [United States Department of State](https://connectthedots.news/org/united-states-department-of-state): Updated travel advisories citing Houthi threats [1]

## How others covered it

Sides: Saudi Arabia vs Houthis. "Favours" is our reading of each article (see /sources#method).

- Asharq Al-Awsat, 24 October 2026: "Saudi Arabia Intercepts Three Missiles Targeting Riyadh, Taif and Yanbu" [favours Saudi Arabia] https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5333054-coalition-says-intercepted-two-houthi-missiles-targeting-yanbu-taif
- The Daily Star, 24 October 2026: "Saudi forces launch deadly strikes on Yemen: Houthi media" [balanced] https://www.thedailystar.net/news/world/middle-east/news/saudi-forces-launch-deadly-strikes-yemen-houthi-media-4306371
- The Peninsula, 24 October 2026: "Saudi forces say intercepted two Houthi missiles targeting Yanbu, Taif" [balanced] https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/24/10/2026/saudi-forces-say-intercepted-two-houthi-missiles-targeting-yanbu-taif
- ABC News, 24 October 2026: "Iran remains open to talks with US under Pakistan-brokered deal, envoy says" https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/iran-remains-open-talks-us-pakistan-brokered-deal-137539415
- The Jerusalem Post, 24 October 2026: "Saudi Arabia says Houthi missile shrapnel falls in Jeddah, Taif, Rabigh after interceptions" [balanced] https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-912716
- Gulf News, 24 October 2026: "Middle East war: US prepares fresh strikes on Iran; Houthi missile targets Riyadh; Tankers hit mines near Hormuz" https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/middle-east-war-houthi-missile-targets-riyadh-tankers-hit-mines-near-hormuz-1.500721804
- Press TV, 24 October 2026: "Saudi airstrike on Yemeni cement factory kills eight, including six women and a child" [favours Houthis] https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2026/10/24/779087/Yemen-Saudi-airstrikes-target-Sa-ada-Ta-iz-Mokha-several-dead-injured

## Linked stories

- Related to: [Deadly attack on Saudi airport in Dammam as US orders staff out of Saudi Arabia](https://connectthedots.news/event/2026-10-21-deadly-attack-on-saudi-airport-in-dammam-as-us-orders-staff-out-of) (21 October 2026)
- Related to: [Oil tops $110 after Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia's Shaybah field and Dammam airport](https://connectthedots.news/event/2026-10-22-oil-tops-110-after-houthi-strikes-on-saudi-arabias-shaybah-field-and) (22 October 2026)
- Related to: [Air India, IndiGo and Akasa extend Saudi flight suspensions into November after Houthi attacks on airports](https://connectthedots.news/event/2026-10-24-air-india-indigo-and-akasa-extend-saudi-flight-suspensions-into) (24 October 2026)

## Sources

1. The Jerusalem Post, "Saudi Arabia says Houthi missile shrapnel falls in Jeddah, Taif, Rabigh after interceptions", 24 October 2026: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-912716
2. The Daily Star, "Saudi forces launch deadly strikes on Yemen: Houthi media", 24 October 2026: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/world/middle-east/news/saudi-forces-launch-deadly-strikes-yemen-houthi-media-4306371
3. Asharq Al-Awsat, "Saudi Arabia Intercepts Three Missiles Targeting Riyadh, Taif and Yanbu", 24 October 2026: https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5333054-coalition-says-intercepted-two-houthi-missiles-targeting-yanbu-taif
4. The Peninsula, "Saudi forces say intercepted two Houthi missiles targeting Yanbu, Taif", 24 October 2026: https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/24/10/2026/saudi-forces-say-intercepted-two-houthi-missiles-targeting-yanbu-taif
5. Gulf News, "Middle East war: US prepares fresh strikes on Iran; Houthi missile targets Riyadh; Tankers hit mines near Hormuz", 24 October 2026: https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/middle-east-war-houthi-missile-targets-riyadh-tankers-hit-mines-near-hormuz-1.500721804
6. Press TV, "Saudi airstrike on Yemeni cement factory kills eight, including six women and a child", 24 October 2026: https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2026/10/24/779087/Yemen-Saudi-airstrikes-target-Sa-ada-Ta-iz-Mokha-several-dead-injured
7. ABC News, "Iran remains open to talks with US under Pakistan-brokered deal, envoy says", 24 October 2026: https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/iran-remains-open-talks-us-pakistan-brokered-deal-137539415