Saudi Arabia intercepted four drones over Riyadh and other regions amid Houthi attacks from Yemen

Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that it had intercepted and destroyed four drones over the Riyadh, eastern and southern regions of the country, amid intensifying attacks launched by Iran-backed Houthi militias from Yemen.

The announcement was made by General Turki al-Malki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, who said the drones had been shot down in recent hours. Saudi authorities also reported intercepting missiles and drones on Friday, particularly over the capital.

Clashes between Yemeni government forces, backed militarily by Riyadh, and Houthi rebels resumed in July after several years of calm. Since the beginning of October, the Saudi kingdom has come under almost daily fire, with the attacks targeting airports and oil infrastructure in particular.

Last Saturday, a Houthi attack on an airport in Riyadh left 13 people dead. Meanwhile, the news agency affiliated with the Houthi rebels reported that nine civilians were killed Saturday in Saudi strikes in Yemen. The death toll over the past 24 hours thus reached 12, after three children were killed overnight. These reports have not been independently confirmed.