The Houthis announced on Tuesday (October 27, 2026) targeting the Ministry of Defense in Riyadh, where explosions were heard, and an oil refinery in eastern Saudi Arabia, as the conflict continues between the Kingdom and Yemeni fighters supported by Iran.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said that the group's forces targeted "the Ministry of Defense in the Saudi enemy's capital, Riyadh, with a ballistic missile, and the hit was direct."
In the capital, Riyadh, AFP reporters reported hearing explosions and residents receiving a text message on their phones warning them of an air threat.
Saudi-led coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki announced on the X platform, “The air defense intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Houthi militia towards Riyadh.”
The Saudi Civil Defense also issued early warnings on Tuesday to “warn of danger” in Riyadh and in several areas in the center and south of the Kingdom, then lifted them minutes later.
The Houthis: Targeting the Ras Tanura refinery, two airports, and an air base
Saree said that the group's forces also targeted "the Ras Tanura refinery in the eastern region with a ballistic missile," speaking of "huge fires breaking out at the targeted site." The Saudi authorities have not yet confirmed the attack. The Saudi-led coalition supporting the government in Yemen announced at dawn on Tuesday the interception of missiles and drones launched by the Houthis towards areas in the east and south of the Kingdom.
British maritime security company Vanguard reported that a fire broke out in the Ras Tanura area in the early hours of Tuesday morning, following an attack. The company said that "the fire has been contained" and that "the extent of the damage and any potential impact on oil loading operations are not yet clear."
The Ras Tanura refinery, located on the eastern coast of the Gulf, is one of the largest oil refineries in the Middle East, and constitutes a fundamental pillar of the energy sector in the Kingdom, with a production capacity of 550 thousand barrels per day.
The Houthis also announced the targeting of Najran Airport, Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, and Abha Airport. The Saudi authorities have not yet confirmed the attack.
Member of the Political Council of the Ansar Allah movement, Muhammad Ali Al-Houthi, said, “It is truly striking that when these people go for, as they say, peace in the region, Egypt and its parliament declare support for the so-called defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in doing so it declares war against the Republic of Yemen.”
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, along with Pakistani Army Commander Asem Munir and Turkish Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin, participated on Monday in a meeting in Tehran with Iranian officials with the aim of "reducing the escalation in the region" at a time when the confrontation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia is escalating.
The Houthis escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia this month, including strikes on Riyadh Airport, one of which killed 13 people and injured hundreds of others on October 10, in the deadliest attack on the Kingdom’s territory in more than a decade.
Iranian state television reported on Monday that the meeting agreed to “continue discussions with the aim of enhancing cooperation, including in the areas of regional peace and security.”
This is the first joint visit to Tehran by officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, since the three countries formed a defense alliance last August.
This visit came in light of renewed confrontations between Riyadh, which leads a military coalition in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, and the Iran-backed Houthis, in July due to the impact of the war in the Middle East, and with the collapse of a truce that had been in effect in Yemen since 2022.
Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan met with Iranian officials in Tehran today, Monday (October 26, 2026), as part of efforts to reduce the escalation in the regional conflict, at a time when the Yemeni Houthi group continues to launch attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Official media reported that the four countries agreed at the conclusion of the meetings to continue dialogue to enhance cooperation in areas including peace and security.
Iranian state television reported on Monday that the meeting agreed to “continue discussions with the aim of enhancing cooperation, including in the areas of regional peace and security.” The talks came after warnings from the United States and Israel of the possibility of a resumption of hostilities.
These talks are the first high-level contact between Iran and the three countries, which concluded the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement in August, since the Iran war broke out.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the visit comes as part of efforts to “reduce escalation” and “encourage dialogue and diplomatic solutions,” and stressed the importance of opening negotiation channels “to prevent the return of military escalation in the region.”
Saudi and Iranian officials said that Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman represents Saudi Arabia, while Pakistan is represented by its army commander Asim Munir, and Türkiye is represented by the head of its intelligence service, Ibrahim Kalin.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said that the meeting, the idea of holding which was raised during Mounir's visit to Tehran last week, could be a first step towards establishing regional security mechanisms.
A senior Pakistani security official said that today's meeting focused on building a regional non-aggression network. He added that the agenda also included the US-Iranian talks, the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the Strait of Hormuz, and the US blockade imposed on Iranian ports.
