Saudi intercepts 4 ballistic missiles launched at Riyadh ahead of foreign ministers’ meeting

Saudi Arabia intercepts and destroys four ballistic missiles that were launched toward Riyadh, the kingdom’s defense ministry says, just ahead of a meeting of regional and Islamic foreign ministers in the Saudi capital.

“Scattered debris fell across various areas of the capital, with initial assessments indicating no casualties or damage,” the ministry says.

Several loud booms are heard and some of the city’s residents receive phone alerts for the first time, warning them of a hostile aerial threat.

Saudi air defenses dealt with a “ballistic threat” in Riyadh, state TV says.

The Gulf kingdom has come under attack from hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones since the US-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28, the vast majority of which authorities say have been intercepted.

But Wednesday’s attack marked the first time many in the city had heard blasts or received a warning.

Two witnesses say they saw what appeared to be missile interceptions on the city’s western edge, near the Diplomatic Quarter housing foreign missions.

The attack came hours before Saudi Arabia was set to host a consultative meeting of foreign ministers from a number of Arab and Islamic countries to discuss ways to support regional security and stability amid the Iran war.

A Turkish diplomatic source says that representatives from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Syria, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates would attend the meeting.