Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that Yemen’s Houthi rebels attempted a ballistic missile strike on the capital, Riyadh. The Saudi-led coalition said the missile was intercepted before it could reach its target, and some residents reported hearing an explosion and seeing a plume of smoke near the airport. No casualties or damage were reported.
Additional Targets Thwarted
The coalition statement added that the Houthis also tried to strike civilian infrastructure in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, where a major Saudi oil pipeline terminates, as well as the cities of Taif, Baysh and the island of Farasan. All of those attempts were reportedly foiled, though the statement provided no further details.
Houthi Claims and Saudi Response
Earlier, Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the group launched cruise and ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi targets, including an alleged attempt to hit the rebel‑held city of Sanaa in Yemen. The Associated Press could not independently verify those claims.
Saudi officials also said the Houthis had tried to attack the holy city of Mecca with a drone, describing the protection of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthplace as a “red line” for Saudi security forces. The Houthis denied that allegation.
Regional Context
The incident comes amid a widening conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Iran‑backed Houthi movement, which has opened a new front in the broader Iran war. Recent days have seen a series of escalations, including the first civilian casualty in Saudi Arabia when debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed a Yemeni resident.
U.S. officials, a close Saudi ally, have indicated that they are not currently engaged in direct combat with the Houthis. Saudi authorities have reported shortages of missile interceptors and have sought additional air‑defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt.
Developments in Yemen
Inside Yemen, fighting continues between the Houthi rebels and the Saudi‑backed internationally recognized government. The Houthis recently seized the Red Sea port of Mokha and several islands at the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait, enhancing their ability to monitor maritime traffic. While they claim to be targeting only Saudi vessels, the increased presence raises concerns for international shipping lanes.
The renewed hostilities mark a return to a full‑scale civil war after four years of relative calm in Yemen.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
