Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched missile strikes against the Saudi capital, Riyadh, for a third consecutive day.

Amid the claims of the attack originating from Yemen, multiple powerful explosions were reported across Riyadh, though the Saudi-led military coalition fighting in Yemen claimed to have intercepted the incoming fire.

According to Al Jazeera, the Saudi coalition stated on Monday (October 12) that it intercepted ballistic missiles fired toward Riyadh and Khamis Mushait.

The attacks follow several days of strikes that have killed at least 13 people and forced the closure of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport.

Following the strikes, an investigation has been launched into the effectiveness of the kingdom’s air defense systems, while the Houthis warned of further attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki said the Houthis launched one ballistic missile toward Riyadh and two toward the southwestern city of Khamis Mushait. He stated that all three missiles were intercepted and destroyed.

However, Al Jazeera reported that Riyadh residents heard multiple loud explosions late Monday night. Shortly before the blasts, residents received mobile alerts warning of impending air raids.

Meanwhile, the Houthis—who control Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and other densely populated areas—claimed that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was their primary target.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said they also conducted drone strikes against a military airbase in Khamis Mushait, near the Yemeni border.

He reiterated warnings to international airlines and passengers to avoid all Saudi airports except those in Mecca and Medina, claiming these facilities are "no longer safe."

The warnings follow a Houthi strike on Saturday that killed at least 13 people and injured over 300 at King Khalid International Airport, forcing its immediate closure. Another attack on Sunday left one person dead and 11 injured.

Saudi authorities announced that the airport will remain closed until next Saturday, prompting various airlines to cancel flights. The Houthis have also continued targeting Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure.

The Houthis are engaged in a conflict for control of Yemen against forces backed by the internationally recognized government.

The Saudi-led coalition has conducted airstrikes against the Houthis while providing ground support to Yemeni government forces.

Regional tensions have intensified further following the escalation of conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Speaking at an energy conference in Riyadh, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud noted that the strikes on airports over the past week represented a significant test of the country’s crisis-handling capabilities.

"The events of recent weeks are serious. Our response must be equally firm," he stated.

Referencing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s "Vision 2030" initiative aimed at diversifying the Saudi economy, the minister emphasized: "This plan must move forward, and investment must continue."

Meanwhile, Saudi authorities are investigating why the country's air defense systems failed to prevent the consecutive strikes, two Middle Eastern officials told the Associated Press (AP) on condition of anonymity.

The officials revealed that preliminary investigations indicate the Houthis first deployed several drones to clear a path through the air defense network.

This was followed by a coordinated barrage of cruise and ballistic missiles, several of which managed to reach the airport.

The Houthis possess ballistic missiles equipped with warheads capable of altering their trajectory mid-flight, making them difficult to intercept for Patriot defense systems and other air defense networks deployed by Saudi Arabia.

One official told AP that investigators are also looking into why early warnings were not issued sooner, given that the missiles and drones traveled over 1,000 kilometers to reach Riyadh.

In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the Houthis but offered no indication of whether the U.S. would directly intervene in the conflict.

Asked by reporters what action he might take regarding the Houthis, Trump said, "The Houthis are behaving very badly. It’s not good."

However, a Houthi official warned of retaliatory strikes if the United States becomes involved in the war.

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi political bureau, told AFP that if the U.S. engages in aggression against Yemen, the group will not hesitate to react.

"We will not waste time deciding whether to respond. Instead, there will be a swift and painful response targeting the U.S. and all its interests in the region," he warned.

Al-Bukhaiti also urged all personnel and workers at Saudi oil facilities and airports to stay clear of those sites, stating that they have now become "legitimate targets."