On Thursday 17 September 2026 a Yemeni resident lost his life and two others were wounded after fragments of a Houthi drone fell in the Taif Governorate of Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Civil Defence said the unmanned aircraft was intercepted and destroyed, but pieces of the wreckage descended on a residential area, striking a Saudi citizen and a Pakistani national. Both survivors were described as being in critical condition.
Images posted by the civil defence on X show shattered windows, damaged roofs and several vehicles battered by the falling debris. Teams from the agency reached the scene promptly, securing the site and carrying out standard emergency procedures.
Material loss extended beyond the human toll, with multiple buildings and cars sustaining visible damage. Authorities have not received any claim of responsibility from the Houthis yet.
The incident follows a series of alerts issued by Saudi officials on 15 September, warning of possible threats over Makkah, Taif and Jeddah as Houthi attacks intensified. On the same day, Saudi air defences shot down another drone south of Makkah before it could enter the city’s restricted airspace, a development the Saudi‑led coalition reported.
In parallel diplomatic moves, Riyadh has asked Oman to approach Sanaa for a two‑week ceasefire aimed at opening humanitarian talks on the Yemen crisis. A senior source told Al Mayadeen that Saudi Arabia expects an official humanitarian agreement to be announced during the proposed pause.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Siasat Gulf