The Saudi-led coalition said on Thursday it had destroyed and intercepted two ballistic missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels towards Riyadh, as explosions were heard across the capital and authorities issued alerts warning of a potential aerial threat.

AFP correspondents heard at least eight explosions in Riyadh after residents received a phone alert warning that the city was “under a hostile aerial threat”. Saudi civil defence also issued warnings of potential danger in Riyadh, Al Kharj and the southern city of Najran, which were lifted shortly afterwards.

Read more: Missile attack triggers Saudi alerts, blasts in Riyadh