The Saudi-led coalition intercepted and destroyed at least 11 drones\nand one ballistic missile detected in Saudi airspace. Several of the\ndrones that were shot down were reportedly heading towards the capital,\nRiyadh, and the holy city of Medina.<\/p>\n
The latest interceptions, part of a recent spate of drone and missile\nactivity, were reported by the coalition\u2019s spokesperson, Major General\nTurki Al-Maliki, in a statement on social media platform X on Thursday\n(22 October), local time, according to Anadolu Agency on Friday (23\nOctober 2026).<\/p>\n
Al-Maliki said the drones were intercepted over Riyadh, the Eastern\nProvince and Medina, while a ballistic missile was intercepted as it\nheaded towards the Najran area in south-western Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
No further details were given about where the drones came from or\nwhere they were launched, or whether the interceptions caused damage or\ninjuries.<\/p>\n
The announcement came as Saudi Arabia has faced repeated missile and\ndrone attacks in recent weeks by the Iran-backed Houthi group, which is\nbased in Yemen.<\/p>\n
Saudi authorities had earlier reported that at least four people were\nkilled in a series of attacks in the Eastern Province.<\/p>\n
Two people were killed by falling debris after air defences foiled a\ndrone attack on an Aramco oil facility, while two others died in an\nattack that struck King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday (21 October), the Saudi-led coalition said its air\ndefences had intercepted seven drones, some of which were heading\ntowards Medina.<\/p>\n
The latest developments come amid a continuing escalation between\nSaudi Arabia and the Houthis since last July, as well as renewed\nfighting between the group and forces belonging to Yemen\u2019s\ninternationally recognised government.<\/p>\n
Since March 2025, Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition\nsupporting the Yemeni government against the Houthis. The group has\ncontrolled strategic areas of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, since\nSeptember 2014.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/saudi-arabia-intercepts-11-drones-and-one-missile-in-its-airspace-1792734774", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }