'Direct hit by God's grace': Houthis claim ballistic missile strike on Saudi Defence Ministry in Riyadh

Yemen's Houthi rebels on Tuesday claimed to have targeted Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence in the capital, Riyadh, with a ballistic missile, asserting that the strike scored a 'direct hit.'  Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, in a social media post, announced the claim, saying the group’s forces had targeted the ministry in what he described as an attack on the Saudi capital.

“Our armed forces targeted the Ministry of Defence in the enemy Saudi capital, Riyadh, with a ballistic missile and the hit was direct,” Saree said.

"By the grace of God, our armed forces targeted the Saudi enemy's Ministry of Defence in the capital Riyadh with a ballistic missile, and the strike was direct by the grace of God," added the spokesperson.

The claim came after Saudi Arabia announced that its forces had intercepted two missiles launched by the Houthis earlier in the day. Explosions were also reportedly heard in Riyadh, raising concerns over the latest escalation in regional tensions.

However, the Houthis’ claim of a direct hit on the Saudi Defence Ministry had not been independently verified at the time of reporting.

The latest development comes amid continuing tensions involving Yemen’s Houthi movement and Saudi Arabia, with missile attacks and interceptions highlighting persistent security concerns across the region.