These strikes follow a broader surge of Houthi operations targeting Saudi infrastructure on Oct 16 and 17. The Saudi-led coalition reported destroying one ballistic missile targeting Yanbu, two cruise missiles over the Red Sea, and seven drones across the Riyadh, Southern, and Eastern provinces. This escalation caused the temporary closure of Riyadh airport and sparked unconfirmed reports of a strike on a Red Sea oil pipeline near Yanbu, which observers noted triggered volatility in oil markets.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Houthis Hit Abha and Najran in New Wave of Saudi Air Alerts
War2 days ago
Sirens alerted residents of the southwestern city of Abha on Oct 18 as the Saudi Civil Defense issued emergency warnings following missile and drone attacks by Iran-backed Ansarallah forces. The National Early Warning Platform also activated alert systems in the Najran region during the same period, instructing residents to follow official safety protocols. While some warnings were later lifted, reports of explosions in the southwest coincided with disruptions to airspace in the eastern region and activity by US Air Force aircraft.
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