Saudi coalition says it shot down four drones as Egypt considers assistance

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced on Saturday that it had intercepted and destroyed four unmanned aircraft over Riyadh, the Eastern Province and the southern region of the kingdom. Major‑General Turki al‑Maliki, the coalition’s spokesperson, said the drones were neutralised in the past few hours and shared video showing the air force also intercepting cruise missiles, drones and striking Houthi ballistic‑missile launchers.

King Khalid airport in Riyadh has endured at least 20 attacks since the conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi‑backed Yemeni government flared in July, including a strike last week that killed 13 people. On Thursday, missile fire near the presidential palace in Aden killed at least five people, an attack the Yemeni authorities blamed on the Houthis. The Yemeni government added that the rebels launched two missiles at Aden’s airport on Friday, while its forces reported advances in Marib province, northeast of Sanaa.

Saudi Arabia continues to back a Yemeni government counter‑offensive known as “Dawn of Yemen” and has carried out air strikes against Houthi positions, including an oil facility in Sanaa. President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi of Egypt said on Saturday that Egypt is ready to take any measure to protect Saudi Arabia if the kingdom asks, stressing that Cairo does not intend to join any regional war but cannot stand by while Saudi interests are harmed. “I’m not talking about fighting anyone or attacking anyone. We are speaking only about defence,” he said. At the president’s request, Egypt’s parliament is convening an emergency session on Sunday.

Saudi officials have accused Iran of encouraging the Houthi escalation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded that Tehran supports a comprehensive political process as the only practical and sustainable way to resolve the conflict.

Several foreign embassies in Saudi Arabia have limited travel and warned their citizens against using the country’s airports. In response to the recent attacks, the Saudi Ministry of Education has extended remote learning for students in Riyadh and nearby Diriyah.