Saudi air defence forces intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia toward the southern Asir region, but falling debris injured an Asian expatriate and caused property damage in Ahad Rafidah Governorate.
The latest attacks come as Houthi forces continue launching missiles and projectiles toward southern Saudi Arabia, while Saudi-led coalition forces maintain heightened readiness to intercept incoming threats.
Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defense said its teams in Ahad Rafidah Governorate, Asir region, responded on Friday, October 2, after shrapnel from an intercepted Houthi ballistic missile fell in a populated area.
The missile was intercepted and destroyed before reaching its intended target, but debris fell to the ground and injured an expatriate resident of Asian nationality. Several civilian vehicles were also damaged in the incident.
Civil Defense said the falling debris also caused material damage to a prayer room inside a building. Emergency procedures approved for such incidents were immediately implemented at the site.
Houthi projectile damages school in Najran
In a separate incident, a projectile launched by Houthi forces struck a school in the southern Saudi city of Najran on Friday, according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), citing a Civil Defense spokesman.
The projectile was described by Saudi authorities as a “hostile projectile” launched by the Houthi militia. It caused material damage to the school, while no injuries were reported.
Civil Defense emergency response teams reached the location and carried out standard procedures for managing the incident.
Three ballistic missiles intercepted
Earlier, the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government said it had intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis toward Khamis Mushait in southern Saudi Arabia.
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Malki announced the interceptions, underscoring the continued activity along Saudi Arabia’s southern border.
Saudi Civil Defense had also reported minor property damage in Khamis Mushait on Thursday after falling shrapnel from an intercepted Houthi ballistic missile reached the area.
Yemeni forces target Houthi vehicles, supplies
Meanwhile, Yemeni government forces carried out an airstrike against Houthi vehicles in Al-Wazi’iyah, targeting vehicles reportedly heading toward Mount Rasan.
The Yemeni forces said the operation was aimed at disrupting Houthi movement and supply lines. The airstrikes targeted vehicles and supplies as part of efforts to halt the group’s military movement in the area.
The developments reflect the continuing escalation in Yemen’s revived civil war, with Houthi forces and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government engaged in renewed fighting.
The Houthis said on Friday that Saudi forces had carried out 94 strikes against areas under their control during the previous 24 hours.
The Iran-aligned group claimed that Saudi strikes on Houthi-held positions had reached 1,350 since the beginning of the renewed fighting, with attacks reported across areas controlled by the group.
Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government against the Houthis since March 2015. The Houthis have controlled the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and several provinces since September 2014.
Southern Saudi border areas, particularly Najran and Khamis Mushait, have faced recurring cross-border attacks involving Houthi projectiles and ballistic missiles, with Saudi authorities regularly intercepting incoming threats and responding when debris falls in populated areas.
