Iran-US war: Saudi led coalition intercepts Houthi launched ballistic missile targeting Riyadh
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthis said on Saturday it had intercepted a ballistic missile launched towards Riyadh by the Iran-backed group. “Air defences intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi terrorist militia toward Riyadh,” coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki posted on X.
The announcement, made in a post on X, followed emergency warnings issued by the Saudi Civil Defence in Riyadh, Najran, and Wadi al-Dawasir. Authorities subsequently said the danger had passed in all three areas.
Earlier, the coalition also announced the interception and destruction of a drone in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
Two explosions rang out in Riyadh early Saturday as per sources. The Saudi civil defence immediately activated an early warning system was activated to alert residents to a potential threat.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy reported that two supertankers attempting to pass through an unauthorised southern route in the Strait of Hormuz struck naval mines earlier on Friday, triggering explosions and severe fires that disabled their engine rooms and left both vessels stranded.
The two tankers were carrying a combined total of more than 4.5 million barrels of crude oil, according to the IRGC Navy. The statement added that the vessels had been abandoned off the southern coast of the Strait of Hormuz following the explosions, with their crews leaving the ships.
According to latest developments, Iran has drawn up plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if the US and Israel launch fresh attacks. An Iranian security official revealed Tehran could also seek to delay repairs to prolong disruptions to communications and internet connections. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards deputy head of political affairs, Yadollah Javani, said the country could target seven major internet cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz if Iranian infrastructure came under attack.
In retaliation , the United States hinted it could strike Iran as soon as this weekend, revealed a US envoy on October 23.
According to media reports, Tom Barak, the US ambassador to Turkey, who leads US policy on Syria and has no direct role in Iran, on being questioned about a strike on Iran, said, “Absolutely.” He added that President Donald Trump remains open to a deal after months of talks.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel has repeatedly vowed in recent months to bring down Iran’s clerical rule following two major bombing campaigns against it in the country since last year. Trump, moreover, has signalled he is open to resuming strikes after a deadlock in talks.
Meanwhile, Israel has ordered a full lockdown of the occupied West Bank and said the army is ready for a large operation. The move followed a gun battle in Hebron while Israeli forces killed two Palestinians. The Israeli army said two of its soldiers died and three were wounded.
At the discussion front, European and Middle East foreign ministers met in Istanbul on Hormuz security.