The Saudi-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government announced on Sunday that it had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the Houthi group towards Riyadh. The missiles were launched by the Houthis, who are backed by Iran, and were destroyed by the coalition's air defenses. The incident occurred after loud explosions were heard in the Saudi capital.
The coalition's spokesperson, Turki Al-Malki, said in a statement that the air defenses had intercepted and destroyed the two ballistic missiles. The incident comes amid an ongoing exchange of attacks between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition. The Houthis have recently launched several attacks on Saudi airports, military sites, and energy facilities.
The Saudi authorities had warned residents of Riyadh of a potential air threat and advised them to stay indoors or in a safe place away from windows and doors. One resident in north Riyadh reported that his house shook as a result of the explosions. The Houthis have been fighting the Saudi-led coalition for several years, and the conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries.
The Houthis claimed that they had carried out several military operations against Saudi targets, including an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and facilities belonging to the state-owned oil company Aramco. The group's military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said that the operations were in response to Saudi aggression against Yemen.
The conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition has resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with thousands of people killed or injured and millions displaced. The United Nations has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and a negotiated settlement to the conflict. The Saudi-led coalition has been accused of committing human rights abuses in Yemen, including airstrikes that have killed civilians.
In a separate incident, dozens of people were killed and injured in an attack on a popular market in southwestern Yemen on Friday. The Houthis and the Yemeni government accused each other of carrying out the attack. The incident highlighted the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
The leader of the Houthi group, Mehdi Al-Mashhat, vowed to avenge the deaths of civilians killed in Saudi airstrikes, saying that the group would target those responsible for the attacks. The conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition continues to escalate, with both sides suffering significant losses.
Key points
- The Saudi-led coalition intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the Houthi group towards Riyadh on Sunday.
- The incident is part of an ongoing exchange of attacks between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition.
- The conflict has resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with thousands of people killed or injured and millions displaced.
