Houthi missiles aimed at Taif and Yanbu intercepted; Makkah region was under alert
Saudi civil defence told residents in four western regions, including Makkah, to move to safety before the coalition said it shot down both missiles. Here is what Pakistanis in the kingdom and Umrah travellers should know.
Saudi-led coalition forces said they intercepted two missiles fired by Yemen's Houthis towards Taif and Yanbu in western Saudi Arabia on Saturday 24 October, AFP reported via Business Recorder. No casualties were reported.
Shortly before the interceptions, Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency sent alerts warning of "potential danger" in four western regions, among them Taif, Yanbu and Makkah, and told people to go to the nearest safe place. The alerts were lifted minutes later. The agency also repeated its legal warning against sharing photos or information about missile and drone interceptions.
Why Yanbu matters
Yanbu is Saudi Arabia's main oil export hub on the Red Sea. According to AFP, it has let Riyadh send much of its crude out without passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blockaded. A strike there would hit the route that has kept Saudi oil flowing during the Gulf crisis, and oil prices feed straight into what Pakistan pays for petrol and diesel (today's prices).
A month of attacks
The Houthis have hit Saudi oil sites and airports repeatedly in recent weeks. An attack on Riyadh airport earlier in October killed 13 people. The war in Yemen, quiet since a 2022 ceasefire, resumed in July as the wider Middle East conflict escalated. Britain has said it will fly RAF Typhoons over Saudi Arabia to help defend its cities (our story), and the kingdom has postponed its FII investment conference to 2027.
If you are in Saudi Arabia or travelling for Umrah
- Follow civil defence alerts on your phone and move to the nearest safe place when one sounds; alerts on Saturday lasted only minutes.
- Do not film or post interceptions. Saudi law forbids sharing images or details of air defence activity, and the agency repeated that warning on Saturday.
- Keep the Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah in your contacts, and check flight status with your airline before going to the airport.
- Sending money home? Check today's rate on our Saudi riyal to rupee page or the currency converter.
Frequently asked questions
- Were the Houthi missiles at Taif and Yanbu shot down?
- Yes. The Saudi-led coalition said both missiles were intercepted on 24 October 2026, and no casualties were reported.
Sources
- Saudi forces say intercepted two Houthi missiles targeting Yanbu, Taif (AFP): Business Recorder
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