Forces intercepted and destroyed four drones over Riyadh, the Eastern Province and the southern region of Saudi Arabia, the coalition says. Published October 17, 2026 October 17, 2026 The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthis has said it intercepted and destroyed four drones over Riyadh and other regions, the latest in a wave of Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities. “We intercepted and destroyed four drones in the last few hours in the Riyadh, Eastern Province and Southern regions,” coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said on Saturday. The Saudi-backed Yemeni government erupted in July. On Thursday, at least five people were killed in missile strikes near the presidential palace in Aden, the seat of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. He blamed the Houthis for the attack. On Friday, the Yemeni government said the Houthis fired two missiles at Aden airport, while government forces said they had advanced into Marib province, northeast of Sana’a. Saudi Arabia backs a government counteroffensive, known as Yemen Dawn, and has carried out airstrikes against the Houthis, including against an oil facility in Sana’a. Egypt weighs aid Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said Saturday he was willing to “carry out any measure to protect” Saudi Arabia if the kingdom requests it. Egypt was not seeking to intervene in regional wars, el-Sisi said, but it was “inconceivable” that Cairo would stand by while Saudi Arabia was harmed. “I’m not talking about fighting anyone or attacking anyone. We’re just talking about defense,” he said. Egypt’s parliament will hold an emergency session on Sunday at the request of the president. Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of encouraging the Houthi escalation. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran supported a “comprehensive political process as the only practical and sustainable way to resolve” the conflict. Several embassies in Saudi Arabia have restricted travel and warned citizens not to use airports. The Saudi Ministry of Education expanded remote learning for students in Riyadh and nearby Diriyah in light of recent Houthi attacks.
