Two ballistic missiles intercepted near Mecca and Medina

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense agency confirmed on Saturday that air defenses intercepted two ballistic missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthis toward the Mecca and Medina regions. The agency stated that debris from the intercepted missiles fell in several locations, including Jeddah, Taif, and Rabigh.

The interceptions followed a Houthi announcement regarding attacks on Saudi oil facilities and airports earlier that day. The group claimed to have targeted a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu, the Rabigh oil refinery, and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree added that King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Najran airport, and an air base in Khamis Mushait were also struck.

These actions occurred while Houthi-linked Saba News Agency reported that Yemen’s National Commission for Human Rights condemned Saudi strikes in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. The commission described a massacre in the Asr neighborhood and an attack on a cement factory in the Hamdan district of Sanaa Governorate.

The US State Department issued a travel advisory update for Israel on Friday, warning of an increased threat of armed attacks by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and the potential for rapid escalation of regional hostilities. The department cited previous Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including strikes on civilian airports and critical infrastructure that resulted in civilian casualties and major travel disruptions.

The update maintained Israel's overall travel advisory classification at Level 3, urging American citizens to reconsider travel due to terrorism and unrest. Existing risk indicators and restrictions on travel to certain areas of the country remained unchanged in the new advisory.