Two Missiles Downed Near Islam's Holy Cities, Debris Hits Three Cities

Saudi Arabia's air defense force brought down two ballistic missiles launched toward the Mecca and Medina regions on Saturday, according to the kingdom's Civil Defense authority. Debris from the interceptions landed in several locations, including Jeddah, Taif, and Rabigh.

The interceptions followed an announcement from the Houthis on Saturday claiming attacks on Saudi oil facilities and airports. Those targets included a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu, the Rabigh oil refinery, and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the group, said its forces also struck King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Najran airport, and an air base in Khamis Mushait.

Earlier on Saturday, the Houthi-linked Saba News Agency reported that Yemen's National Commission for Human Rights condemned Saudi Arabia over strikes in Sanaa. The commission described a "massacre" in the Asr neighborhood of Sanaa and an attack on a cement factory in the Hamdan district of Sanaa Governorate.

The exchange of fire came as the US State Department updated its travel advisory for Israel on Friday. The update warned of a heightened threat of armed attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces and the potential for rapid escalation of regional hostilities. Israel's overall travel advisory classification remains at Level 3, which urges American citizens to reconsider travel due to terrorism and unrest, and existing risk indicators and area-specific travel restrictions were unchanged. The State Department cited earlier Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on civilian airports and critical infrastructure that caused civilian casualties and major travel disruptions.