Houthi missiles aimed at Eastern Province intercepted

Saudi air defences intercepted three ballistic missiles aimed at the Eastern Province early on 27 October, and PIA's Riyadh flights remain suspended with no date to resume. The Saudi-led coalition said the missiles were destroyed and that four drones launched towards the southern region were also intercepted; Civil Defence issued warnings for the Eastern Province and Al Kharj at about 3am and gave the all-clear soon afterwards, and no casualties or damage were reported, according to Arab News and the Reuters and Anadolu reports carried by The Express Tribune. Overnight the coalition had reported destroying three drones over the Riyadh region and the south.

The Houthis said they had attacked the Ras Tanura refinery; Bloomberg reported that a fire near the Ras Tanura export terminal was contained, with the extent of any damage unclear, and Saudi Arabia did not comment. In the afternoon Gulf News reported a further coalition statement that two ballistic missiles launched towards Riyadh had been intercepted, with no details of casualties or damage. Pakistan's Foreign Office condemned the attacks of 24 October near Makkah and Madinah as a grave violation of Saudi sovereignty, and Pakistani officials joined Saudi and Turkish representatives of the Makkah defence agreement for talks with Iranian officials in Tehran on 26 October, which both sides agreed to continue.

For pilgrims, the position is unchanged: Gulf News's list of 27 October again shows PIA's Riyadh services suspended with no resumption date, the Pakistan Airports Authority's last statement said PIA's other Saudi services continue, Jeddah and Dammam airports are operating with delays and cancellations, and Riyadh Air flies its Lahore and Islamabad services through Al Qassim. Connections through the UAE are unchanged: Etihad's Riyadh, Dammam and EY601 to EY604 Jeddah services are cancelled through 5 November, flydubai's Riyadh, Dammam and Abha flights through 29 October, and Emirates lists Jeddah from 30 October and Riyadh and Dammam from 8 November while its Madinah flights operate. Confirm your flight, your terminal at Jeddah and your onward transport to Makkah with the airline or your Umrah operator before leaving for the airport, and follow Civil Defence alerts while in the Kingdom.