The Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted two missiles heading towards Riyadh. The kingdom’s civil defence agency later said falling debris damaged the two civilian sites.
Saudi Arabia on Thursday said that debris from the interception of missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthis damaged a kindergarten and a medical complex in Riyadh, as the Iran-backed group launched a fresh wave of attacks on the Saudi capital.
The Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted two missiles heading towards Riyadh. The kingdom’s civil defence agency later said falling debris damaged the two civilian sites. It did not report casualties or give details of the extent of the damage.
Fresh attacks target Riyadh
The Houthis claimed three separate attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. Their military spokesman, Yahya Saree, also said missiles were fired at an airport in Najran and an airbase in Khamis Mushait.
The group has increasingly targeted Saudi Arabia since fighting in Yemen intensified in July. It has threatened to strike key infrastructure and disrupt Saudi airspace.
Sources briefed on the situation gave differing accounts of damage at Riyadh airport, with one saying a plane suffered severe damage and another reporting that three aircraft were hit. The claims could not be independently verified.
Several flights at the airport were delayed or cancelled, while passengers were advised to check with airlines before travelling.
Residents told to take precautions
Explosions were heard across Riyadh after the missile interceptions. Some diplomats were instructed to remain inside their embassies, while several international schools took extra safety measures.
One school reportedly moved children to a basement after the attacks. A parent told AFP that her daughter had called her, saying she was “completely distraught”.
The United States urged its citizens in Saudi Arabia to exercise heightened vigilance following the attacks.
The Houthis have also threatened Saudi oil facilities, warning workers to leave them. The latest escalation comes days after an attack on a major refinery south of Riyadh.