Explosions heard over Riyadh as Saudi authorities say Houthi missiles downed

Saudi authorities said air defenses destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels over the capital Riyadh on Tuesday after witnesses reported hearing at least four explosions. Attack warnings had been issued for Riyadh and other areas including Abha City, Najran City and Khamis Mushait Governorate before the alerts were lifted without immediate reports of damage.

Officials also said air defenses intercepted and destroyed three additional ballistic missiles launched toward Saudi Arabia's eastern region earlier in the day. The Saudi-led coalition spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Turki al-Malki, posted on X that coalition forces had intercepted four Houthi drones targeting the kingdom's south and three ballistic missiles aimed at its eastern region, though The Associated Press could not verify the claim.

The Houthis claimed on social media they had hit the Ras Tanoura refinery in the eastern region with a ballistic missile, but Saudi Arabia issued no immediate comment and the claim could not be verified. Meanwhile, the Houthi-run Health Ministry blamed Saudi-backed government forces for a strike late Monday on a gas station near the besieged city of Taiz, saying two people were killed and several wounded.

Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV aired footage showing two body bags and wounded receiving treatment at a hospital. The station also reported government airstrikes Tuesday on the Houthi-controlled port city of Mokha and the Dhubab district near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. An eyewitness in Mokha told the AP she heard two explosions around 4 a.m., one near the port and another farther away, speaking on condition of anonymity fearing reprisals.

For weeks, the Houthis have largely encircled Taiz — Yemen's third-largest city — and cut off most supply routes from government-held areas, though government forces have fought back. The Yemeni military said in a post on X that its forces had launched airstrikes targeting Houthi positions. The AP could not independently verify claims from either side.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal