Saudi-Led Coalition Says It Intercepts Ballistic Missile Fired Toward Madinah

RIYADH (Terror Monitor) — The Saudi-led military coalition fighting in Yemen has claimed that its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile allegedly launched by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement towards the Madinah region in western Saudi Arabia, an allegation the Houthis have strongly denied.

Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki announced the interception on Thursday, November 5, in a statement posted on social media platform X.

"Air defence intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia toward the Madinah region," Al-Maliki said.

The coalition did not disclose the missile's precise trajectory, its intended target or whether the interception caused any damage.

The announcement came amid heightened security alerts across several parts of Saudi Arabia, including the strategic Red Sea port city of Yanbu and the southern border governorate of Sharurah.

Saudi Civil Defence issued emergency warnings through the National Early Warning Platform, alerting residents to potential danger in both areas.

In separate announcements, authorities subsequently confirmed that the danger had passed, without specifying what had triggered the alerts or whether they were connected to the reported missile interception.

According to Anadolu Agency, Saudi Civil Defence issued three brief warnings across Yanbu and Sharurah on Thursday before announcing that the situations had been brought under control.

Houthis reject allegations of targeting Madinah

The Houthi movement rejected the Saudi-led coalition's accusation, describing it as a fabricated and misleading claim intended to damage the group's image internationally.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the movement's military operations were directed exclusively against Saudi oil installations and military bases, denying that its forces had targeted Madinah or other Islamic holy sites.

In a statement carried by the Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah television network, Saree said:

"Our operations target only the Saudi enemy's oil facilities and military bases."

He also emphasised that Yemenis held the Islamic holy sites in high regard and accused Saudi Arabia of attempting to manipulate international public opinion through what he described as false allegations.

The Houthi spokesperson further accused Riyadh of using such claims to secure international support for its military campaign against Yemen.

The group has repeatedly denied targeting Makkah and Madinah during its ongoing confrontation with Saudi Arabia, maintaining that its attacks are directed against military installations and energy infrastructure.

Neither side provided independently verifiable evidence establishing the missile's trajectory or intended target.

Saudi Arabia issues emergency alerts in Yanbu and Sharurah

The reported interception coincided with a series of emergency warnings issued by Saudi authorities in two strategically important areas.

Yanbu, located on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast, is a major oil export hub and an important component of the kingdom's energy infrastructure.

The city serves as the western terminal of Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline, which allows the kingdom to transport crude oil to the Red Sea and export it without relying entirely on the Strait of Hormuz.

Sharurah, meanwhile, is located in the southwestern Najran region near the border with Yemen and has strategic importance because of its proximity to the conflict zone.

Saudi Civil Defence instructed residents in the affected areas to follow official safety instructions and avoid gathering or filming during the emergency warnings.

However, authorities did not identify the specific threat that prompted the alerts.

Reuters reported that the warnings came as the Houthis continued their campaign against Saudi Arabia, opening another front in the wider US-Israeli war involving Iran.