RIYADH, October 13, 2026 — The Saudi-led military coalition said on Tuesday it had intercepted and destroyed three drones north of the Saudi capital, Riyadh, as the confrontation with Yemen’s Houthis entered another tense day marked by evacuation orders, retaliatory strikes, and stark warnings on both sides.
Drones Downed North of Riyadh
Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki wrote on X that three drones had been “intercepted and destroyed” north of Riyadh city, AFP reported. The announcement came hours after air-raid sirens sounded and explosions were heard across the capital, state media reported.
The interception is the latest in a string of aerial engagements that have rattled Saudi Arabia’s airspace over the past week, after the Houthis — Iran-backed rebels who control much of northern Yemen — launched a series of missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports and energy infrastructure. King Khalid International Airport remains closed until at least October 17, and widespread flight cancellations have stranded tens of thousands of travellers across the kingdom.
Evacuation Order for Sanaa Fuel Facility
In a sign of escalating retaliation, the coalition issued an evacuation warning for civilians near the Yemen Petroleum Company’s Al-Sabahah central fuel station in Sanaa, ahead of a planned targeted operation in the Yemeni capital.
The coalition’s joint forces command published a map identifying the site and urged civilians to leave the area “for their own safety,” Arab News reported. The order came just days after Saudi aircraft struck Houthi targets in and around Sanaa.
Houthis Vow ‘Painful’ Response
The Houthis reacted swiftly, warning Riyadh against any strike on the capital. “The Yemeni Armed Forces warn the Saudi enemy that any targeting of the capital, Sanaa, will be met with a tough and painful response in the enemy’s capital of Riyadh,” Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree wrote on X, according to AFP.
The Houthi-run al-Masirah television channel, meanwhile, accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out overnight airstrikes along Yemen’s northern border with the kingdom and on its western coastline. The channel reported two airstrikes on the Houthi-held Red Sea island of Kamaran, a third in the Qanawis district about 55 kilometres northwest of the port city of Hodeidah, and further strikes in Al Jawf province, AP reported. Riyadh did not immediately respond to the allegations.
The Houthis also claimed to have shot down a Saudi drone over Saada province, the rebels’ northern stronghold bordering Saudi Arabia.
A Conflict With No End in Sight
The latest exchange underscores how deeply the fighting has spilled over from the wider regional conflagration between the United States and Iran. The Houthis have been attacking Saudi airports, oil facilities, and shipping lanes since last week as part of a rapidly escalating campaign — shutting down parts of Saudi airspace, suspending operations at Riyadh airport, and forcing the capital’s financial district to shift to remote work, analysts say.
Iran has offered to mediate between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, but Riyadh has so far kept its focus on military pressure. Despite intensified Saudi airstrikes against the group, the Houthis show no sign of easing their barrage — and both sides now warn each other of painful consequences if the next strike lands.
