The missile intercepted over Madina was announced by the Saudi-led coalition on Thursday, the latest aerial threat in the escalating cross-border war between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The Houthis denied any involvement.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree rejected the Saudi claim outright, calling it a shameless and brazen lie. The conflicting accounts could not be independently verified, as has been the pattern in the fast-moving conflict.
Missile intercepted Madina: escalation around Saudi airports
The reported interception comes days after a deadly strike on Riyadh’s international airport. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation reported that a brutal attack on the airport a day earlier killed 12 people and injured 309 others, making it the deadliest attack on the kingdom in more than a decade.
Earlier on Sunday, the Houthis had warned travellers and airlines to stay away from Saudi airports and airspace, describing them as vulnerable to targeting. The rebels specifically exempted the airports of Mecca and Medina from the warning.
Last month, the coalition said it intercepted a hostile drone before it entered the airspace of Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, and called the targeting of the holy city a disgraceful act. The Houthis denied targeting Mecca and described the Saudi allegations as fabrications and lies, insisting their operations target only oil facilities and military bases.
Pakistan drawn into Saudi air-defence needs
The war’s widening reach has direct implications for Pakistan. Regional officials have told the Associated Press that Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and has asked France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt for air-defence support.
That request places Islamabad in a delicate position. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have deep defence ties, and thousands of Pakistanis live and work in the kingdom. Any Pakistani contribution to Saudi air defence would be closely watched in a region already strained by the Iran war and its spillover into Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Why this matters
Attacks deep inside Saudi territory have become routine since Yemen’s civil war reignited, ending a four-year ceasefire. The coalition continues to strike Houthi launch sites in Yemen while the rebels press cross-border attacks with missiles and drones.
For now, each side’s claims remain unverifiable in the absence of independent access. What is certain is that the tempo of attacks is rising, and the war that began in Iran is spreading its costs across the Gulf.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Saudi coalition claim about Madina?
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a missile in the Madina region on Thursday. The Houthis denied involvement, with their military spokesman calling the claim a brazen lie.
What happened at Riyadh airport?
Saudi civil aviation authorities reported that an attack on Riyadh’s international airport killed 12 people and injured 309 others, the deadliest attack on the kingdom in over a decade.
Why is Pakistan involved in this story?
Regional officials told the Associated Press that Saudi Arabia, running low on missile interceptors, has asked Pakistan — along with France, Britain and Egypt — for air-defence support.
Are Mecca and Medina being targeted?
Both sides dispute this. The coalition has accused the Houthis of targeting the holy cities; the Houthis deny it and say their operations target only oil facilities and military bases.
