Coalition to Support Legitimacy says it intercepted ballistic missile launched by Houthis toward Riyadh

The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen announced on Monday, October 12, that it had intercepted a ballistic missile launched by the Ansar Allah (the Houthis) toward the Saudi capital Riyadh.

The coalition spokesman, Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, said in a brief statement posted on X that the missile was intercepted and destroyed.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted its correspondents as hearing loud explosions in Riyadh on Monday evening, moments after residents received an alert on their phones warning of a "hostile aerial threat." The message read: "Warning.. the area is under a hostile aerial threat, please act calmly and stay in your homes or in a safe place away from windows and doors, and continue to follow Civil Defense instructions."

The Saudi General Directorate of Civil Defense announced that an early warning had been issued from the national warning platform in Riyadh to warn of a potential danger, and called on citizens and residents to remain calm and follow official instructions.

The Civil Defense urged people to move immediately to the nearest safe place inside buildings or to an interior room away from windows and doors, and to remain there until the danger passes; to avoid open areas and glass and not to be on balconies or roofs. It also advised those outside to enter the nearest building or take shelter behind a solid barrier and avoid gathering, and if a person is in a vehicle to stop at the side of the road away from bridges and tall buildings.