RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said its air defence systems intercepted four ballistic missiles targeting the capital on Wednesday evening, with debris falling in different parts of the city.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said initial assessments indicated there were no injuries or damage despite shrapnel landing in “scattered areas of the capital.” Earlier in the evening, around 7:30 p.m., the ministry had announced that air defence units were responding to a ballistic threat over Riyadh.
المتحدث الرسمي لـ #وزارة_الدفاع: اعتراض وتدمير 4 صواريخ باليستية أُطلقت باتجاه مدينة الرياض، وسقوط شظايا نتيجة عملية الاعتراض على مناطق متفرقة في العاصمة، والتقديرات الأولية تشير إلى عدم وقوع أضرار أو إصابات. pic.twitter.com/ss5l2cQhta
— وزارة الدفاع (@modgovksa) March 18, 2026
Authorities also reported shooting down a drone that was heading toward a gas facility in the Kingdom’s Eastern Region. The ministry confirmed that the interception and destruction of the drone caused no damage.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Malki has said that five drones that attempted to approach an energy plant in Eastern Region were intercepted and destroyed.
The incidents came as Saudi air defences intercepted multiple waves of drones and ballistic missiles targeting the Kingdom throughout the day. Around midday, a drone approaching the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh was also intercepted and destroyed.
Earlier, air defence systems shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Al-Kharj Governorate. Debris from the interception fell near Prince Sultan Air Base but caused no damage, officials said.
Later in the evening, two additional ballistic missiles targeting the Eastern Province were intercepted and destroyed. The defence ministry also reported intercepting nine drones aimed at the same region since midnight.
The attacks occurred amid ongoing regional tensions involving Iran and Gulf countries.
In the United Arab Emirates, the defence ministry said it intercepted 13 ballistic missiles and 27 drones launched from Iran on Wednesday. Residents in Dubai reported hearing loud explosions in the morning.
UAE authorities also identified six civilian victims killed since the attacks began on February 28. Among them was Palestinian national Alaa Mushtaha, who was killed in Abu Dhabi on Monday when a missile struck her car. Local media reported that her funeral was held Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed condolences to the victims’ families and strongly condemned what he described as Iran’s “unprovoked terrorist attacks” targeting the country.
He criticised the missile and drone strikes against civilian infrastructure, including airports, residential neighborhoods, and other civilian sites across the UAE.
Elsewhere in the Gulf, both Qatar and Kuwait also reported intercepting drone attacks on Wednesday.
