Saudi air defenses knock down a Houthi ballistic missile aimed at the oil-rich Eastern Province

Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile that Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militia fired toward the kingdom's Eastern Province early Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency reported, according to Arab News.

Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki announced the interception. It is the latest in a run of aerial threats: the coalition has reported at least 15 ballistic and cruise missiles and drones intercepted or destroyed across the kingdom since the start of November.

On Saturday, air defenses destroyed a cruise missile launched toward the Riyadh region. A day earlier, two ballistic missiles aimed at Najran were intercepted. Two drones were destroyed over the Riyadh and Makkah regions on Nov. 6, and a ballistic missile targeting the Madinah region was stopped on Nov. 5.

Houthi strikes on Saudi airports and energy sites have disrupted civilian flights. Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport suspended operations after attacks in October, and several international airlines extended suspensions of Riyadh service into November.