Two ballistic missiles intercepted near Saudi holy cities

Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense agency announced on Saturday that it successfully intercepted two ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthis toward the regions of Mecca and Medina. Fragments from the downed projectiles landed in three locations: Jeddah, Taif, and Rabigh.

The interceptions followed a Houthi declaration of attacks on Saudi strategic assets earlier that day. The rebel group stated it targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu and the Rabigh oil refinery. It also claimed strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the Houthi movement, confirmed additional targets in the barrage. He said the group aimed at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Najran airport, and an air base in Khamis Mushait.

In response to the regional tension, the Houthi-linked Saba News Agency reported that Yemen’s National Commission for Human Rights condemned Saudi airstrikes in the Yemeni capital. The commission described a massacre in the Asr neighborhood of Sanaa and an attack on a cement factory in the Hamdan district.

The US State Department updated its travel advisory for Israel on Friday, citing an increased threat from Iran-backed Houthi forces. The notice warned of potential rapid escalation in regional hostilities but kept the country's advisory level at Level 3, which urges reconsideration of travel due to terrorism and unrest.

The department referenced past Houthi strikes on Saudi civilian airports and critical infrastructure that caused civilian casualties and major travel disruptions. This latest exchange marks a new phase in the ongoing conflict between the two groups.