18.10.2026 10:41
The Saudi-led coalition announced that it intercepted and destroyed 4 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the capital Riyadh, the Eastern Region, and the south of the country. As clashes between the Houthis and government forces in Yemen escalate, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said they are ready to take steps to protect Saudi Arabia if Riyadh requests it. The Egyptian Parliament decided to hold an extraordinary session at Sisi's request.
Fighting that intensified again in Yemen in July spilled over into Saudi Arabia. While it was reported that King Khalid Airport in Riyadh was the target of at least 20 attacks, Egypt sent a message of defense support against the tension in the region.
COALITION: 4 UAVS DESTROYED
Major General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said in a statement yesterday that 4 UAVs detected in Riyadh, the Eastern Region and the south of the country in the past few hours were neutralized by air defense elements. Al-Maliki also shared footage that he said showed interception activities against cruise missiles and UAVs he claimed belonged to the Houthis, and airstrikes on ballistic missile launch systems.
13 PEOPLE KILLED IN RIYADH
It was reported that King Khalid Airport in Riyadh has been the target of at least 20 attacks since fighting intensified again in Yemen in July. It was stated that 13 people lost their lives in one of the attacks carried out last week.
MISSILE ATTACK IN ADEN: AT LEAST 5 DEAD
At least 5 people died in missile attacks on Thursday near the presidential palace in Aden, the seat of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The Yemeni government held the Houthis responsible for the attack. The government also announced that on Friday, October 16, the Houthis fired 2 missiles at Aden Airport.
“YEMEN’S DAWN” OPERATION
Government forces reported that they had made progress in Marib province, northeast of the capital Sanaa. Saudi Arabia is supporting the government forces’ counter-operation against the Houthis called “Yemen’s Dawn.” The Riyadh administration is increasing military pressure on the Houthis with airstrikes, in which an oil facility in Sanaa was also targeted.
SISI: WE ARE ONLY TALKING ABOUT DEFENSE
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said in a statement yesterday that they were “ready to take all kinds of measures” to protect the country if Saudi Arabia makes a request. Sisi, stating that Egypt does not aim to intervene in regional wars, stressed that, nevertheless, Cairo cannot be expected to remain silent in the face of harm to Saudi Arabia. Sisi said, “I am not talking about fighting anyone or attacking anyone. We are only talking about defense.”
EGYPTIAN PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE EMERGENCY SESSION
It was reported that the Egyptian Parliament will hold an emergency session today at Sisi’s request.
“INCITEMENT” ACCUSATION AGAINST IRAN
Saudi Arabia claims that Iran is encouraging the increase in Houthi attacks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, stated that “a comprehensive political process is the only viable and sustainable way” to resolve the conflict.
AIRPORT WARNING FROM EMBASSIES
It was reported that some embassies in Saudi Arabia have imposed travel restrictions and warned their citizens not to use airports. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education also extended the duration of distance education in Riyadh and the nearby city of Diriyah due to the recent attacks.
WSJ: IRAN PROVIDING INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT TO HOUTHIS
The US-based newspaper The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) alleged that Iran’s support contributed to the Houthis carrying out their most effective and advanced attacks to date against Saudi Arabia and its allies in Yemen. The newspaper based its report on sources informed about intelligence from parties in the alliance against the Houthis in Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
TEHRAN REJECTS CLAIMS
The report alleged that Iran’s support helped the Houthis advance in Yemen’s Red Sea coastal areas and carry out attacks targeting oil facilities and airports in Saudi Arabia. It was stated that these attacks included the attack that caused the deaths of 13 people in Riyadh last week. The Tehran administration, however, rejects claims that it interferes in Yemen’s internal affairs and argues that the Houthis are “completely independent actors.”
ATTACK ON TUGBOAT OFF UAE COAST
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency issued a new attack notice regarding maritime security in the Middle East. According to the agency’s statement, a tugboat sailing south off the city of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was hit by “two unidentified objects.”
ARMED ATTACK ON LNG TANKER
It was stated that the damaged tugboat continued its course and that 1 person was slightly injured in the incident. Shortly before this notice, UKMTO had announced that a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker sailing off the city of Mukalla in Yemen had been subjected to an armed attack by people in a small boat.