Houthis say they targeted Saudi capital with ballistic missiles

Key Points:

• Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen claimed responsibility for drone and ballistic missile attacks targeting Riyadh and energy sites on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast, with Saudi authorities intercepting a missile aimed at Riyadh.
• Air raid alerts sounded in Riyadh for the first time since July amid escalating Houthi attacks, causing temporary flight disruptions at King Khalid International Airport and prompting US State Department warnings for Americans to reconsider travel in the region.
• The Houthis stated their attacks were retaliation for Saudi airstrikes on Sanaa and reported heavy casualties on both sides in recent fighting, while the UN's International Organization for Migration noted over 104,000 people displaced due to the conflict.
• The Houthis have recently seized strategic locations including the port city of Mokha and Perim Island, affecting key shipping routes used by Saudi Arabia for oil exports amid ongoing naval blockades.
• The escalating conflict has introduced uncertainty in global oil markets, with major financial institutions like JP Morgan expressing difficulty in predicting the war's impact on oil prices.