Saudi-led coalition air defenses intercepted a flurry of suspected Houthi drones and ballistic missiles targeting Riyadh and energy infrastructure on Thursday coinciding with a unanimous United Nations Security Council vote to extend sanctions on the group.
Interceptions Across Riyadh and the Eastern Province
Major General Turki al-Maliki announced the interceptions of suspected Houthi drones over Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh region and Eastern Province, as reported by Al Jazeera. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said that the group targeted oil infrastructure and military assets, including a pumping station on the East-West Pipeline and the Yanbu oil facility on the Red Sea.
Approximately 4 percent of the world’s oil supply, or 4 million barrels of crude daily, has been diverted by Riyadh through its East-West Pipeline toward Yanbu. Saree asserted that a drone was used to attack a military transport plane at Sharurah airport near the Yemeni border, while a ballistic missile successfully struck the Khamis Mushait airbase.
The Houthi spokesperson added that their forces targeted the Saudi Aramco headquarters in the capital, while rejecting as a grave falsehood a Saudi assertion that the group targeted the kingdom’s Mecca region on Wednesday.
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Fragments of two ballistic missiles destroyed over Makkah fell in the village of Sabouha, the Saudi Civil Defense stated early on Thursday, according to Arab News. Saudi-backed coalition forces fighting on behalf of Yemen’s internationally recognized government said they continue to confront the Houthis across all frontlines.
According to Yemen’s state-run, pro-government news agency Saba, the country’s Defence Ministry said that the campaign against the Houthis is advancing toward its intended goals, a claim made in reference to the Saudi-supported Presidential Leadership Council. A meeting convened by the Defence Ministry was held in the Marib governorate to discuss ongoing operations against the Houthis and enhance coordination within the Dawn of Yemen offensive.
#Statement | Ministry of Energy Official: Attempted Attack on a Saudi Aramco Building in Riyadh. pic.twitter.com/Hlu3Aam4wc
Security Council Extends Sanctions on Yemen
On Thursday, the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted in favour of extending sanctions related to Yemen for one year, including asset freezes and travel bans, while demanding an end to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. The mandate for the UN Panel of Experts on Yemen was also extended.
UNSC members called on all parties to refrain from escalatory actions and to resolve disputes through negotiation, while backing the territorial integrity of both Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
“The council sanctions are merely a means, not an end in themselves,” said Ambassador Fu Cong, China’s envoy to the UN, “the situation in Yemen will de-escalate as soon as possible” Ambassador Fu Cong, China's envoy to the UN, who hoped said
| Entity / Initiative | Key Action or Detail | Date |
|---|---|---|
| UN Security Council | Unanimously extended Yemen sanctions and Panel of Experts mandate for one year | November 12, 2026 |
| Saudi-Led Coalition | Intercepted drones and missiles over Riyadh, Eastern Province, and Makkah region | November 12, 2026 |
| UN OCHA | Reported 333,000 people displaced in Yemen since August | November 12, 2026 |
Displacement Rises as Saudi Arabia Pressures EU on Houthi Designation
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on Thursday that, since the start of August, Yemen has seen more than 333,000 displacements, with over 24,000 of those occurring within the last seven days. Civilians continue to pay a heavy price as violence damages health facilities and hinders humanitarian work, OCHA said.
In the meantime, Reuters reports that Riyadh is urging the European Union to pass a parliament resolution labeling the Ansar Allah Houthi group as a terrorist entity. European officials told Reuters the bloc is concerned this could undermine a future peace process.
Anouar El-Anouni, a spokesperson for EU foreign policy, said that while the union maintains consistent dialogue with Riyadh regarding regional matters, he would not provide details on any ongoing deliberations.
