Saudi air defenses destroy Houthi missile over Taif: Military
Saudi Arabia’s air defense forces intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi movement toward the city of Taif on October 29, 2026, according to official military statements reported by Al Masry Al Youm. The interception follows a broader escalation that includes multiple missile launches targeting Riyadh and the Eastern Province.
Ballistic Missiles Intercepted Over Riyadh and Taif
Debris from two intercepted ballistic missiles caused material damage upon falling in Riyadh, according to Al Riyadh. Meanwhile, Sky News Arabia reported the initial interception of a ballistic missile over Saudi airspace.
The General Authority for Entertainment Chairman, Turki Al-Sheikh, reacted to the Taif attack on the platform X by reposting the official military spokesman’s statement and writing, Thank God..
Civil Defense authorities in Saudi Arabia issued temporary warnings regarding potential risks in Najran and the Eastern Province before declaring the areas safe shortly afterward, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.
Initial reports of a Houthi ballistic missile attack on King Fahd Air Base, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, at least four explosions have been heard around Taif.
Aviation Resumes in Aden Amid Expanding Humanitarian Crisis
While aerial defenses engaged incoming projectiles over the kingdom, the Yemeni Ministry of Transport announced the normal resumption of operations at Aden International Airport on Thursday following a missile strike attributed to the Houthi group the previous evening, Asharq Al-Awsat reported.
International aid organizations warn that the ongoing escalation deepens a crisis in a country where 22.3 million people rely on humanitarian assistance. Prior to this latest escalation, internal displacement stood at approximately 5.2 million individuals, while 2.2 million children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition, according to figures cited by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies via Asharq Al-Awsat. Government sources indicate that the military wing of the Houthi movement increased residential strikes following stalled territorial advances on the ground.
