Madar (International) - The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said on Saturday, October 17, 2026, that it had intercepted and destroyed four drones within hours over the Riyadh region, the Eastern Province and the south of the kingdom, the latest in a wave of Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities, Al Jazeera reported.
"We intercepted and destroyed four drones over the past few hours," coalition spokesman Major-General Turki al-Maliki said, posting footage he said showed cruise missiles and drones being intercepted and Houthi ballistic missile launchers being struck. Riyadh's King Khalid airport has come under at least 20 attacks since fighting between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government flared in July, including one last week that killed 13 people.
In Cairo, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said Egypt was willing to "carry out any measure to protect" Saudi Arabia should the kingdom ask. Egypt was not looking to intervene in regional wars, he said, but it was "inconceivable" for Cairo to stand by while Saudi Arabia was harmed. "I'm not talking about fighting anyone or attacking anyone. We are speaking only about defence," he said. Egypt's parliament is holding an emergency session on Sunday at his request.
Riyadh accuses Iran of encouraging the Houthi escalation, which Tehran denies. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country supported a "comprehensive political process" as the only practical and sustainable way to resolve the conflict. The coalition is carrying out air strikes on the Houthis, who accuse it of killing civilians, including children, in Dhamar and Taiz provinces, according to AFP.
Several embassies in Saudi Arabia have restricted travel and warned citizens against using airports, and the Saudi Education Ministry extended remote learning in Riyadh and Diriyah. Mauritania condemned the attacks on Riyadh and Abha airports on October 9 and expressed solidarity with the kingdom.
