Saudi Arabia Again Targeted by Ballistic Missiles and Drones

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Saudi Arabia is once again facing the threat of missile and drone attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthi group. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it had intercepted and destroyed seven projectiles heading towards the kingdom.

Reuters reported that the coalition said on Tuesday (27 October 2026) that the Houthis had launched three ballistic missiles towards Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province and four drones towards its Southern Province. Saudi Civil Defence issued an early warning for the Eastern Province and Al-Kharj Governorate before confirming that the situation in both areas was safe.

The escalation comes as Saudi Arabia steps up attacks on the Houthis, following the group’s move last month to seize several strategically important areas on Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The development has fuelled concern as the Houthis advance towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a strategic route for global trade, including energy shipments from the Gulf region. It lies on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula from the Strait of Hormuz, meaning that escalating conflict in both areas could put further pressure on shipping security and international energy supply chains.

The latest fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis also threatens the United Nations-brokered ceasefire agreed in 2022. The deal had previously curbed most attacks between the Saudi-led coalition, which backs Yemen’s internationally recognised government, and the Houthis, who control the capital, Sanaa.

The escalation also raises the prospect of a wider conflict amid the dispute involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The Houthis are allied with Tehran, and their attacks on Saudi Arabia risk broadening regional tensions.

Although the coalition said all the missiles and drones had been destroyed, the developments have once again highlighted the fragility of security in the Red Sea region and the Arabian Peninsula. The report gave no further details on damage caused by the latest attacks.