Explosions heard over Riyadh as Saudi authorities say Houthi missiles downed, and other Mideast news

According to the AP, as carried by CP24, Saudi authorities said they destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels after explosions were heard over the Saudi capital Riyadh Tuesday.[3]They said air defenses destroyed another three Houthi ballistic missiles fired toward the country's eastern region.[3]The AP reports that Saudi Civil Defense authorities said on X that shrapnel from the two intercepted missiles had fallen on Riyadh, causing damage to a building, a construction site and a vehicle.[1] Anadolu-affiliated outlet A News reports that Saudi officials provided no further details.[4]According to the AP, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed Tuesday on X that a rebel ballistic missile scored a direct hit on the headquarters of the Saudi defense ministry in Riyadh.[1] The AP said it could not verify those claims.[1]The AP also reports that the Houthis said on social media that they hit the Ras Tanoura refinery in the eastern region with a ballistic missile, but the claim could not be verified and Saudi Arabia issued no comment.[1]Al Jazeera reports that the Saudi-led coalition said it launched retaliatory attacks, destroying five tunnels used by the Houthis to store ballistic missiles, four missile launchers and a missile depot.[5]The AP also reports that the Houthi-run Health Ministry blamed the Saudi-backed government forces for a strike late Monday on a gas station in Taiz.[3]They said that two people were killed and several wounded.[3]