Saudi Air Defences Destroy Drone Over Eastern Province

Saudi Arabia’s air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone over the Eastern Province early on Thursday, October 15, according to coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki. In a separate statement, the coalition said no injuries or material damage had been reported. Al-Maliki added that the coalition will continue taking the necessary measures to safeguard the kingdom’s security and protect citizens and residents. He did not initially give details on the drone’s origin.

Houthi Claims

The announcement came hours after Yemen’s Houthi group claimed it had targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile. The group gave no details on casualties or damage from the claimed attack. The Houthis also claimed to have targeted a Saudi Eurofighter Typhoon with an air-to-air missile over Yemen’s Saada governorate.

Recent Interceptions Reported by the Coalition

• Wednesday: A ballistic missile launched towards Riyadh was intercepted and destroyed, and warning alerts were activated in the capital and Al-Kharj.

• Tuesday: Ballistic missiles fired towards Dhahran and Haradh were destroyed, along with four cruise missiles and two drones over Riyadh and southern regions, and three drones north of Riyadh. Debris fell on a residential area in Dhahran. Saudi civil defence said four people were injured in Riyadh and 15 homes sustained limited damage.

• Aramco: Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said a limited fire broke out at an administrative building of Saudi Aramco in Dhahran after it was targeted on Tuesday evening, with no injuries or fatalities.

Background

The report says military escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has continued since July, with attacks increasingly affecting civilian aviation and energy infrastructure. It says 10 attacks on five Saudi airports between October 5 and 11 killed 20 people and disrupted flights.