Saudi Forces Intercept 10 Houthi Missiles as Riyadh Airport Resumes Operations

OPA WIRE, Oct 25 (OPA) — Saudi air defenses intercepted 10 ballistic missiles fired by the Houthi group toward the southern region on Sunday, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki confirmed the destruction of a cruise missile targeting the city of Khamis Mushait, while residents in Riyadh reported hearing three explosions in the early hours of the morning. Authorities had previously issued mobile alerts warning of an aerial threat.

The renewed hostilities follow a two-week suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport, which was shuttered after an October 10 attack that killed 13 people and injured more than 300. Despite Houthi warnings that the airport remains a military target, flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 confirmed that a Saudi Arabian Airlines passenger jet departed for Jeddah on Sunday morning. Saudi state media reported that the threat to the cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait has been neutralized.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree reiterated the group's intent to target Saudi infrastructure while denying responsibility for certain strikes, specifically claiming they do not target holy sites in Mecca or Medina. Tehran has denied involvement in the recent escalation, rejecting accusations from Riyadh that it is fueling the conflict. The United States ordered non-essential embassy staff and their families to depart Saudi Arabia last week, citing the heightened security risks.

The current surge in cross-border attacks marks a significant escalation in the conflict since early October. While the Saudi-led coalition continues to maintain air superiority and defensive measures, the Houthi group maintains that the capital’s primary aviation hub is unsafe for civilian travel. The situation remains fluid as regional diplomatic efforts to mitigate the impact of these strikes continue under the shadow of the ongoing military campaign.