Saudi Arabia says Houthis tried to attack its capital

Key Points:

• Saudi Arabia confirmed a ballistic missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Riyadh, marking the first such targeting of the capital amid escalating conflict with the Tehran-backed group; the missile was intercepted with no reported casualties or damage.
• The Houthis also attempted attacks on civilian infrastructure in Yanbu, Taif, Baysh, and Farasan, but these were thwarted by Saudi forces, with the Houthis claiming strikes on sensitive sites and Aramco facilities without evidence.
• Recent escalations include a Houthi drone attack on Mecca, which Saudi Arabia intercepted and labeled a "red line," though the Houthis denied involvement; a civilian casualty was reported from intercepted drone debris in Saudi Arabia.
• The conflict has intensified along key Red Sea shipping routes, with Houthis seizing strategic locations such as the port city of Mokha and islands near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, enhancing their surveillance capabilities over maritime traffic.
• Saudi Arabia faces shortages of missile interceptors and has sought air defense support from allies including France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt, while fighting continues between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, reigniting Yemen's civil war after years of relative calm.