SAUDI ARABIA SAYS HOUTHI REBELS TARGETED RIYADH WITH MISSILE

Saudi Arabia said Houthi rebels from Yemen attempted a ballistic missile attack on Riyadh on Saturday, the first strike on the capital since fighting escalated with the Iran-backed group. The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said it intercepted the missile before dawn. Some residents heard an explosion, and others later saw a plume of smoke near Riyadh's airport. Officials reported no casualties or damage. The Houthis claimed responsibility, saying without evidence that they had hit "sensitive sites" in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu, causing what they called "massive fires".

The coalition said the Houthis tried to attack infrastructure in Yanbu, Taif, Baysh and Farasan, giving no detail; Aramco, the world's largest oil company, did not respond to a request for comment on the claims. A Houthi spokesman, Yahya Saree, said the group used cruise and ballistic missiles and drones, and claimed Saudi Arabia had tried to strike Sanaa, a claim that remains unverified. On Thursday, Saudi civil defence said debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed a Yemeni resident of Saudi Arabia, the first civilian casualty reported in the escalation. On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a Houthi drone targeting Mecca, calling the city's security a "red line"; the Houthis denied the accusation.

The escalation has occurred near a major shipping corridor, adding pressure on markets. The United States, a close Saudi ally, has signalled it has no current fight with the Houthis. Regional officials said Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and has asked France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt for air defence support. Fighting has surged inside Yemen itself, between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed government that is internationally recognised.