The Saudi-led coalition intercepted two ballistic missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels toward the Mecca and Medina regions on Saturday, with debris falling in Jeddah, Taif, and Rabigh, according to Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense. The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on multiple Saudi airports and oil facilities, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, an Aramco facility in Yanbu, and the Rabigh oil refinery, as well as crude oil pumping stations and the East-West Pipeline.
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense confirmed intercepting the missiles but did not directly address the Houthi claims regarding the oil facilities and airports. The Saudi-led coalition stated its forces responded to falling debris near oil sites but did not provide further details on the Houthi assertions.
The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory for Bahrain on October 23, maintaining a Level 3: Reconsider Travel designation due to armed conflict and terrorism threats. The warning cited Iranian-supported Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on civilian airports and critical infrastructure that resulted in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions. The advisory emphasized the potential for rapid escalation in the region, noting a higher risk of armed attacks by Houthis or Iranians targeting U.S. government officials. U.S. government employees require special authorization to travel to Bahrain, and the embassy in Saudi Arabia issued a security alert warning of potential airport closures, flight cancellations, and travel disruptions.
The Houthis, aligned with Iran, also warned airlines against using Saudi airspace except over Mecca and Medina amid intensified attacks. Saudi Arabia denied Houthi claims of targeting the holy cities, though the group reiterated its strikes on airports in Najran, Dammam, and Riyadh, as well as an air base in Khamis Mushait.
In a separate development, the U.S. ordered non-emergency government employees to leave Saudi Arabia this week amid worsening Houthi attacks and heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The move followed intelligence reports indicating Iran was in the advanced stages of planning attacks against Americans in the region, according to a New York Times report cited by U.S. officials. The warnings came as oil prices surged, with Brent crude futures exceeding $116 per barrel, a six-month high.
The Saudi-backed Yemeni government accused the Houthis of firing three ballistic missiles at coast guard sites in Aden, striking a headquarters and a building in the Tawahi district. The Houthis claimed their targets included Saudi-backed military gatherings at the Al-Nasr camp and a naval base in Aden, alleging Saudi officers were overseeing mobilizations there.
The U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia had previously warned Americans to avoid filming, sharing, or publishing information related to security operations, citing heightened risks of attacks with little to no warning. Potential targets include religious sites, transportation hubs, tourist sites, shopping malls, government and military facilities, and markets.
The escalation follows months of intensified hostilities between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis, with both sides exchanging strikes across the border and within Yemen. The conflict has drawn broader regional tensions, including warnings from the U.S. about the potential for rapid escalation beyond the immediate area of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.