Saudi Arabia says Houthis tried to attack its capital
Saudi Arabia reported intercepting a ballistic missile launched by Houthi rebels targeting Riyadh, marking a new escalation in the regional conflict. Meanwhile, Iran has communicated conditions to the US for ending the war, including the lifting of naval blockades and the release of seized assets.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing volatility in the Middle East and the complex, indirect diplomatic negotiations between the US and Iran.
Saudi Arabia on Saturday said that Yemen's Houthi rebels tried to attack Riyadh with a ballistic missile, the first time the Saudi capital has been targeted since the escalation in fighting with the Iran-backed rebels opened a new front in the Iran war.
The statement said the attack was intercepted. Some residents in Riyadh heard an explosion, and later some saw a plume of smoke near the airport. There were no reports of casualties or damage.
The statement also said the Houthis tried to attack civilian infrastructure in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu — where a key Saudi pipeline ends — and in Taif, Baysh and Farasan but they were thwarted, giving no further details.
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