Saudi Arabia announced Saturday that Yemen’s Houthi rebels attempted to launch a ballistic missile at the capital, Riyadh. The Saudi-led coalition said the missile was intercepted before it could strike, and while some residents reported hearing an explosion and seeing smoke near the airport, there were no reports of injuries or damage.
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. No further details were provided about these attempts.
Houthi claims and Saudi response
The Houthi military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed the group launched cruise and ballistic missiles along with drones, and accused Saudi Arabia of attempting to target the rebel‑held capital of Sanaa. The Associated Press could not independently verify these assertions.
Earlier this week, Saudi civil defense reported that debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed a Yemeni resident living in Saudi Arabia, marking the first civilian casualty in the recent escalation. The kingdom also said a Houthi drone aimed at Mecca was intercepted, describing any threat to the holy city as a “red line.” The Houthis denied that allegation.
International context
The United States, a close Saudi ally, has indicated it is not currently engaged in combat with the Houthis. Saudi officials have said they are experiencing a shortage of missile interceptors and have sought additional air‑defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt.
Meanwhile, fighting inside Yemen has intensified between the Houthi forces and the Saudi‑backed internationally recognized government. The rebels recently seized the Red Sea port of Mokha and several islands in the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait, enhancing their ability to monitor maritime traffic, though they claim they are only targeting Saudi vessels.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
