Saudi Arabia downs Houthi missiles at Taif, Yanbu; Iran vows to bar US ships
Two Houthi ballistic missiles fired at Taif and the oil port of Yanbu were destroyed on Saturday, as Iran's military chief said US warships will never be allowed into the Gulf amid talk of a new US strike.
At a glance
- The Saudi-led coalition said on Saturday, October 24, 2026, it intercepted and destroyed two Houthi ballistic missiles fired towards Taif and Yanbu. No damage or casualties were reported.
- Saudi civil defence briefly issued 'potential danger' alerts for four western regions, including Makkah, Taif and Yanbu, then lifted them minutes later.
- On Friday the coalition said it destroyed two missiles aimed at Riyadh and Khamis Mushait and two drones heading for southern Saudi Arabia.
- Iran's armed forces chief of staff, Ali Abdollahi, said US warships will not be allowed into the Gulf 'under any circumstances and at any time'.
- The warnings come a day after a US envoy said Washington could strike Iran as soon as this weekend; the White House has said it will not resume attacks before the November 3 midterms.
Saudi air defences destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthis towards the cities of Taif and Yanbu on Saturday, October 24, 2026, the Saudi-led coalition said. No damage or casualties were reported. The attack came hours after Iran's military chief said US warships would never be allowed into the Gulf, as tension builds over a possible new US strike on Iran.
What happened
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki said the two missiles launched towards Taif and Yanbu "were intercepted and destroyed". Shortly before his statement, Saudi civil defence sent "potential danger" alerts to phones in four western regions, including Makkah, Taif and Yanbu, telling residents to go to the nearest safe place. The alerts were lifted a few minutes later. Officials did not say what the missiles were aimed at.
It was the latest in a string of Houthi missile and drone launches at Saudi Arabia this week.
| Date (2026) | Target | What the coalition said |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, Oct 21 | King Fahd International Airport, Dammam | Projectile hit the airport and caused a fire near a passenger plane; one airport worker died, his family said |
| Friday, Oct 23 | Riyadh and Khamis Mushait | Two ballistic missiles and two drones heading for the south destroyed |
| Saturday, Oct 24 | Taif and Yanbu | Two ballistic missiles intercepted and destroyed |
Yanbu, on the Red Sea coast, is Saudi Arabia's main oil export hub outside the Gulf. With the Strait of Hormuz largely closed to normal traffic, it has carried much of the kingdom's crude exports, so any threat to it worries oil markets. Taif lies in the mountains above Makkah and hosts a major air base.
Iran: US ships "will not be allowed"
Earlier on Saturday, Iran's armed forces chief of staff, Ali Abdollahi, said on state television that Iran would not allow US military ships into the Gulf "under any circumstances and at any time". Speaking of President Donald Trump's hope of sending forces into the Gulf, he said Trump would "take that dream to his grave".
Iran's Revolutionary Guards also said this week that two supertankers using what they called an unauthorised southern route through the Strait of Hormuz hit naval mines, and that their crews abandoned the ships. The Guards said the two vessels were carrying more than 4.5 million barrels of crude between them. These claims have not been independently confirmed. A senior Guards official, Yadollah Javani, warned that seven major undersea internet cables under the strait could be targeted if Iran's infrastructure is attacked.
Background
The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have repeatedly fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia since the wider war with Iran resumed. The attacks have closed airspace, led airlines to suspend flights to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, and pushed Saudi Arabia to postpone its flagship investment conference to 2027. This week Washington ordered non-emergency US embassy staff and their families to leave the kingdom.
On Friday, US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said the United States could "absolutely" strike Iran as soon as this weekend. Trump played down the remark, and the White House has said it will not resume attacks before the November 3 midterm elections, while keeping military options open. US intelligence chiefs have warned that Iran has stepped up efforts to target US personnel.
Reactions
Saudi officials have not commented beyond the coalition statement. The coalition has previously rejected Houthi claims that it threatened Yemeni tribal and civilian gatherings, calling them false. Iran's leaders say any new US attack would be answered, and the Revolutionary Guards have said they would "take the initiative" if the war restarts.
Why it matters
Attacks on Saudi oil hubs and threats to shipping in the Gulf feed straight into global oil prices, which have already climbed sharply. For Pakistan, India and other South Asian importers, higher crude prices mean costlier petrol, diesel and electricity, and millions of workers in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf face disruption to travel and daily life. Pakistan has also just ratified a defence pact with Saudi Arabia, which raises its stake in the kingdom's security.
What happens next
Saudi civil defence alerts are likely to continue as long as the Houthis keep firing. Markets open on Monday and will react to any weekend escalation. The key date is the November 3 US midterm election, before which the White House says it will not resume strikes on Iran — though officials stress that military options remain on the table.
Questions people are asking
Did the Houthis attack Yanbu and Taif?
Yes. The Saudi-led coalition said the Houthis fired two ballistic missiles towards Taif and Yanbu on Saturday, October 24, 2026, and that both were intercepted and destroyed. No damage or casualties were reported.
Why is Yanbu important?
Yanbu is Saudi Arabia's main oil export port on the Red Sea. With shipping through the Strait of Hormuz disrupted, it has handled much of the kingdom's crude exports, which makes it a key target.
What did Iran say about US ships in the Gulf?
Iran's armed forces chief of staff, Ali Abdollahi, said on state television that US military ships would not be allowed in the Gulf under any circumstances. He said President Trump would 'take that dream to his grave'.
