Saudi Coalition Intercepts Cruise Missile in Medina Region; Houthis Deny Attack
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Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile in the western Medina region on Thursday, hours after reporting a separate drone interception in the country's oil-rich Eastern Province.
The coalition provided no details about the missile's origin, intended target or the circumstances of the interception. Its spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Malki, confirmed the operation in a statement carried by Saudi state media but did not identify who was responsible.
Yemen's Houthi movement denied launching the missile. Military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had conducted no attacks against Saudi territory on Thursday, rejecting suggestions that it had targeted Medina. The Houthis have previously pledged to spare the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
The incident comes amid a sharp escalation in fighting between Saudi-backed forces and the Houthis, whose recent attacks on airports and energy infrastructure have disrupted air travel and heightened security concerns across the kingdom.
Riyadh's international airport has faced serious disruptions following deadly missile strikes, while flights through Jeddah have also been affected. The latest hostilities follow renewed clashes in Yemen over strategically important territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital shipping route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Saudi officials have not released additional information establishing whether the missile was directed at Medina itself or another location within the wider region.
