Saudi Arabia Intercepts Four Houthi Drones over Riyadh

Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted four unmanned aircraft, or drones, launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement. The drones were reportedly targeting the capital, Riyadh.

AFP reported on Sunday (18 October 2026) that Riyadh leads a military coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government in its civil war against the Iran-backed Houthis.

Since the conflict flared up again in July after easing for several years, Saudi Arabia has continued to face missile and drone attacks by the Houthis targeting oil facilities, tankers and airports.

“We have intercepted and destroyed four drones in recent hours in the Riyadh region, the Eastern Province and the Southern region,” coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki wrote on the platform X.

Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of encouraging the Houthis’ recent escalation. Tehran has denied the accusation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran supported an inclusive political process as the only practical and sustainable way to resolve the conflict on the Arabian Peninsula. He also reiterated Iran’s offer to mediate between the two sides.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh had previously said Riyadh had not responded to the offer.

The Houthis are part of the Iran-backed “Axis of Resistance” opposing Israel and the United States, although both the movement and Tehran insist that the Houthis act independently.

Saudi Arabia has launched retaliatory air strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, where government forces are seeking to push back the group after it made advances in a September lightning offensive.

On Saturday, a Houthi-affiliated news agency accused Saudi fighter jets of targeting civilian neighbourhoods in Dhamar and Taiz provinces, killing 12 people.