Saudi Arabia thwarts Houthi attack as Trump considers action against Iran

Security remained intense in the Middle East over the weekend as the Saudi-backed coalition reported intercepting strikes in Riyadh while US President Donald Trump pondered imminent relaunch of military strikes against Iran.

Turki Al-Malki, spokesman for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, said on X that there have been "interception and destruction of a loitering (cruise) missile" launched by the Houthi militia toward Khamis Mushait, Asir Province. Air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile heading toward Riyadh on Sunday, he said.

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The King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh said it would partially reopen on Sunday after previous attacks suspended operations, Xinhua News Agency reported, adding that the airport would designate Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights operated by national carriers.

The announcement came as Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said Houthi forces had renewed their warning to all global, regional and local airlines, as well as employees and travelers, against traveling through the Khalid airport, "as it is unsafe, being a military target for our forces".

"The Saudi regime bears the consequences of any operation of the airport and what will result from that, because the armed forces will continue their operations toward it and it will never be safe," he said.

The Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition exchanged heavy attacks on Saturday. The Houthis claimed widespread missile and drone strikes across Saudi Arabia, while intense Saudi-led airstrikes shook Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, causing multiple casualties.

Media sources reported that explosions were heard in Riyadh on Sunday morning, while residents received alerts on their phones.

Yemen's Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba said on Sunday that she met with her Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan to discuss developments in the region.

Al-Zouba said ending the Houthis' attack and restoring state institutions are fundamental to security in Yemen and the region, adding that she values Turkiye's steadfast support for Yemen and its unity, sovereignty, security and stability.

She also told journalists in Istanbul that nearly a decade of negotiations with the Houthis had failed to secure a political settlement, accusing the military group of using periods of calm to build up arsenal and repeatedly block efforts to end the conflict, Turkiye's Anadolu Agency reported.

Al-Zouba said the Yemeni government will not accept negotiations that give the Houthis an opportunity to rearm.

Interference rejected

In related developments in the region, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated on Sunday that regional security must be ensured by the countries in the region and rejected any foreign interference, the Mehr News Agency reported.

Araghchi made the remarks during a ceremony held at the Foreign Ministry's Institute for Political and International Studies. He added that foreign players should not be in the region as they were only seeking the security of Israel, accusing Israeli officials of trying to sow the seeds of discord and division in the region.

"We still believe that our region should enjoy an indigenous peace, free from foreign interference. The wars of the past year represent a turning point in the region's history and have disrupted all existing structures. This is the reality, and nothing will be the same as it was before," Araghchi said.

Meanwhile, Trump hinted at a rally in Florida that "we may do another little Epic Fury", referring to the term for the United States' military campaign against Iran, amid signs of frustration over not reaching a deal with Tehran yet, Reuters reported. He had earlier pledged not to strike Iran before the Nov 3 midterm elections.

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Trump had also endorsed the reelection of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the Israeli polls scheduled for Tuesday. In Israel's financial hub Tel Aviv, thousands of people gathered on Saturday for a large anti-government demonstration.

Israeli media reported that leaders of the four main opposition parties took part in the gathering, including Gadi Eisenkot, the former military chief of staff who is neck-and-neck with Netanyahu.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman Hossein Mohebbi warned that the joint aggression by the US and Israel could have repercussions beyond Iran and decide the fate of other countries in the region, Mehr reported.

AFP contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at jan@chinadailyapac.com