Saudi-led coalition intercepts drones as Egypt weighs sending help

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthis has said it intercepted and destroyed four drones over Riyadh and other regions, the latest in a wave of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s airports and oil facilities.

“We intercepted and destroyed four drones over the past few hours in the regions of Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and the South,” coalition spokesperson Major-General Turki al-Maliki said on Saturday.

He also posted footage of what he described as the air force intercepting cruise missiles and drones and striking ballistic missile launchers belonging to the Houthis.

Riyadh’s King Khalid airport has come under at least 20 attacks – including one last week that killed 13 people – since the fighting between the Houthi rebels and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government flared in July.

On Thursday, at least five people were killed in missile strikes near the presidential palace in Aden, the seat of Yemen’s internationally recognised government. It blamed the Houthis for the attack.

On Friday, the Yemeni government said the Houthis fired two missiles at Aden’s airport, while government forces said they had advanced in Marib province, northeast of Sanaa.

Saudi Arabia is backing a government counteroffensive, known as Dawn of Yemen, and has carried out air strikes on the Houthis, including on an oil facility in Sanaa.

Egypt weighs help

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said on Saturday he was willing to “carry out any measure to protect” Saudi Arabia should the kingdom ask.

Egypt was not looking to intervene in regional wars, el-Sisi said, but it was “inconceivable” for Cairo to stand by while Saudi Arabia was harmed.

“I’m not talking about fighting anyone or attacking anyone. We are speaking only about defence,” he said.

Egypt’s parliament is holding an emergency session on Sunday at the president’s request.

Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of encouraging the Houthis’ escalation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, said Tehran supported a “comprehensive political process as the only practical and sustainable way to resolve” the conflict.

Several embassies in Saudi Arabia have restricted travel and warned citizens not to use airports.

The Saudi Ministry of Education extended remote learning for students in Riyadh and nearby Diriyah in light of the recent Houthi attacks.