Iran-Backed Houthis Escalate Attacks on Saudi Arabia as Projectile Injures 6 in Najran

RIYADH (Terror Monitor) — At least six people were injured when a projectile launched by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck a residential area in the southwestern Saudi city of Najran on Sunday, damaging three houses and three vehicles, Saudi authorities said.

The incident came amid an intensification of hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, with Saudi air defences intercepting ballistic missiles and drones targeting several regions of the kingdom.

According to Saudi Civil Defense, emergency teams responded to the projectile impact in Najran on October 18. The agency confirmed that six Saudi citizens were injured and that three residential buildings and three vehicles sustained material damage.

Saudi authorities had earlier issued a potential-danger alert for the southern region through the National Early Warning Platform. The alert was subsequently lifted after officials determined that the immediate danger had passed.

Saudi Civil Defense said the incident involved a projectile launched by the Iran-backed Houthi militia at a residential location. The agency described attacks targeting civilian property as a violation of international humanitarian law.

The latest incident highlights growing security concerns in Saudi Arabia’s southern border regions as the conflict in neighbouring Yemen intensifies.

Saudi Air Defences Intercept Ballistic Missiles and Drones

Separately, the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government announced that its air defences had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched towards Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki said on Sunday that the missiles were fired by the Iran-backed Houthis.

The coalition also intercepted and destroyed three drones, including two over the Riyadh region and another over the Eastern Province, according to the Saudi Gazette.

The interceptions followed additional Houthi drone activity reported on Saturday, when Saudi forces said they had destroyed four drones over different parts of the kingdom.

Saudi authorities did not immediately provide details of any casualties or property damage resulting from the intercepted missiles and drones.

The latest incidents followed a series of attacks that have heightened concerns about the security of Saudi Arabia’s airports, energy infrastructure and residential areas.

Saudi Arabia Denies Houthi Claim of Downed Helicopter

The escalating confrontation also involved competing accounts over a Saudi military helicopter near the Yemeni border.

Houthi military officials claimed that their forces had shot down a Saudi Apache helicopter.

However, coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki rejected the claim, responding on X that the helicopter would soon be seen on the battlefield.

Al-Maliki separately confirmed that a Saudi National Guard AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter had crashed in the Najran region because of a technical malfunction, killing both crew members.

The helicopter crashed inside Saudi territory, according to the Saudi-led coalition. Both crew members were officers serving with the Saudi National Guard, and their deaths were confirmed on Sunday.

Reuters reported that the coalition attributed the crash to a technical malfunction, while the Houthis claimed responsibility for bringing down a Saudi helicopter. The available information did not establish that the aircraft involved in the crash was the Apache helicopter described in the Houthi statement.

Saudi-Houthi Conflict Intensifies

The latest attacks come as fighting between the Iran-backed Houthis and forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government has intensified in recent weeks.

Saudi Arabia has supported Yemen’s internationally recognised government and led a military coalition against the Houthis since 2015. The Houthis seized the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and continue to control substantial parts of the country.

The renewed escalation has extended beyond Yemen’s borders, with Saudi Arabia reporting missile and drone attacks against its territory and the coalition conducting military operations against Houthi targets.

The Houthis have also targeted infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, while the Saudi-led coalition has reported attacks against Houthi military facilities and missile-launching positions.

Recent attacks have raised concerns about the safety of civilians and the potential impact on regional transportation and energy infrastructure.

The Associated Press reported on Sunday that the wider escalation had also prompted regional diplomatic and security discussions, including an Egyptian decision to support Saudi Arabia in responding to Houthi attacks.

Regional Security Concerns Grow

Najran’s location near the Yemeni border has made it particularly vulnerable to cross-border security threats during periods of heightened conflict.

The latest projectile strike damaged residential property and injured six people, while Saudi air defences continued intercepting missiles and drones aimed at other parts of the country.

Although Saudi authorities have confirmed the casualties and property damage in Najran, the broader exchange of attacks underscores the risk of further escalation between Riyadh and the Houthis.

The situation remains volatile as Saudi Arabia continues to support Yemen’s internationally recognised government and the Houthis maintain their military campaign against Saudi-linked targets.

Terror Monitor will continue to monitor developments in the Saudi-Houthi conflict, including further missile and drone attacks, civilian casualties and military operations along the Saudi-Yemeni border.