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The Saudi-led coalition in conflict with Yemen’s Houthis said that its forces intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by the group, thwarting attacks on the Saudi cities of Taif and Yanbu.
“Escalations and violations by the terrorist Houthi militia will be dealt with firmly,” said coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki in a series of posts on X.
Greek security sources told Reuters that an air defence system operated by Greek military personnel in Saudi Arabia intercepted a ballistic missile and a drone in the wider Yanbu region.
“Both were shot down,” one of the sources said, adding that the Greek Patriot system launched two missiles but not giving details on the origin of the drone and the ballistic missile. A second source confirmed the information.
It was the fifth time the Greek-operated system had been used in combat since the US and Israel launched their war with Iran at the end of February, underscoring the widening military role of European allies in defending Gulf energy infrastructure.
Since 2021, Greece has deployed a US-made Patriot air defence battery operated by Greek personnel in Saudi Arabia, under an agreement to help protect the kingdom’s energy facilities.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence said the danger had passed in Makkah, Taif, and the northwestern region of Tabuk, following earlier emergency warnings for those areas, as well as Jeddah and Yanbu.
In separate all-clear notices, the agency urged residents to continue following its instructions and to avoid gathering or filming.
Makkah, Taif and Jeddah are in western Saudi Arabia. Yanbu is a Red Sea port city farther north, while Tabuk is in the kingdom’s northwest.
The Civil Defence had issued warnings through the national early warning platform about a “potential danger.” The notices did not specify the threat or report casualties or damage. Saudi Arabia has faced a series of missile and drone attacks attributed to the Houthis in recent days.
