Saudi Coalition Intercepts Drones as Egypt Weighs Helping Riyadh

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said on Oct. 17 it intercepted and destroyed four drones over Saudi Arabia, as Egypt weighed whether to send help to Riyadh. Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said the interceptions took place over the past few hours. Al Jazeera

Al-Maliki said the drones were brought down over Riyadh, the Eastern Province and the South. Riyadh's King Khalid airport has come under at least 20 attacks since fighting between Houthi rebels and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government flared in July. An attack on the airport last week killed 13 people.

The threat has disrupted daily life in the capital. Several embassies in Saudi Arabia have restricted travel and warned citizens not to use airports amid Houthi attacks. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education extended remote learning for students in Riyadh and nearby Diriyah in light of recent attacks.

Fighting has intensified inside Yemen. On Thursday, at least five people were killed in missile strikes near the presidential palace in Aden, seat of Yemen's internationally recognised government. On Friday, Yemen's government said the Houthis fired two missiles at Aden's airport.

Yemeni government forces said they had advanced in Marib province, northeast of Sanaa. Saudi Arabia is backing a Yemeni government counteroffensive known as Dawn of Yemen. Saudi Arabia has carried out air strikes on the Houthis, including on an oil facility in Sanaa.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said on Saturday he was willing to "carry out any measure to protect" Saudi Arabia should the kingdom ask. Egypt's parliament is holding an emergency session on Sunday at the president's request to discuss protecting Saudi Arabia. Al Jazeera

Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of encouraging the Houthis' escalation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran supported a "comprehensive political process as the only practical and sustainable way to resolve" the conflict.