Saudi Arabia says it thwarted a missile strike on Medina, and other Middle East developments

Saudi Arabia’s Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile over Medina province and thwarted another attack in the kingdom’s east. The coalition did not identify who launched the missile. Saudi Arabia separately said it destroyed a drone over the Eastern province, a major oil-producing area.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree denied that the group carried out the Medina attack. The Houthis had previously said they would not target airports in Mecca or Medina. Riyadh’s international airport had suspended service because of Houthi attacks, the report said.

The attacks come amid a renewed Saudi-Houthi conflict around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The rebels seized key areas near the waterway last month, according to the report. The Saudi-led coalition is backing forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government as it tries to retake those areas.

Separately, former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar filed a defamation suit against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bar says Netanyahu falsely accused him of failing to pass along warnings before Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Netanyahu says Bar knew of the threat but did not alert him or other security officials; Bar says his agency issued warnings that were disregarded.

An Israeli strike north of Gaza City killed one man, according to officials at Shifa Hospital. Israel’s military said it struck a militant but gave no further details. The report says more than 1,500 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire, citing Gaza’s Health Ministry, whose figures do not distinguish civilians from militants.

The European Union and Gulf Cooperation Council postponed an Oct. 24 summit in Riyadh, with no new date announced. The GCC secretary-general linked the delay to Houthi strikes and the safety of delegates. The gathering had been expected to address Red Sea security, energy investment, and prices.