Debris falls in Saudi capital after ballistic missile interception, causing property damage

Debris from an intercepted ballistic missile fell in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Thursday, causing property damage, the Saudi Civil Defense said.

“Civil Defense teams in Riyadh responded to debris from a ballistic missile after it was intercepted and destroyed,” the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, citing the Civil Defense spokesperson.

The official said the missile was launched by Yemen’s Houthi group, adding that the incident caused property damage to a kindergarten and a medical clinic complex.

The development comes amid a sharp escalation in Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi airports, military sites and oil infrastructure.

Yemeni government forces launched a new offensive under Operation “Dawn of Yemen” this week aimed at restoring state institutions and retaking territory held by the Houthis.

Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and several provinces in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government. Fighting resumed in July after a period of relative calm following the 2022 truce.