Saudi Coalition Reports Interceptions Near Mecca and Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s military coalition said it intercepted three cruise missiles headed toward Riyadh and two drones aimed at Mecca and southern regions on Wednesday, November 11. Saudi Civil Defence separately said debris from two intercepted ballistic missiles fell at several locations in the Mecca region. The reports do not establish whether those accounts describe the same missiles, and the launches’ origin has not been independently confirmed.

Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki announced the cruise-missile and drone interceptions. Saudi Civil Defence said debris landed in several places, including Sabuhah village. One report also named Wadi Al-Mughammas, Jeddah, Taif and Rabigh as debris locations and said there were no casualties; that level of detail was not included in the Civil Defence account cited elsewhere.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree denied that the group targeted Mecca, saying its operations focus on military and oil facilities. The coalition attributed the threats to the Houthis. The competing accounts leave disputed whether Houthi forces aimed weapons at the holy city.

The interceptions followed separate coalition reports on Tuesday, November 10, of...