Saudi-led coalition intercepts eight Houthi missiles, drones over Saudi Arabia
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said Tuesday it had intercepted and destroyed six missiles and two drones launched by the Iran-backed Houthi militia, including a ballistic missile targeting the eastern city of Dhahran, where interception debris fell in a residential area.
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki said air defenses intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis, one toward Haradh and another toward Dhahran.
He said fragments from the interception fell in a residential area of Dhahran, adding that authorities were responding to the incident.
In separate statements, al-Malki announced the interception and destruction of three cruise missiles and two drones in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh and southern regions.
He subsequently reported the interception and destruction of another cruise missile in the Riyadh region, bringing the total number of cruise missiles intercepted to four.
The announcements bring the total number of projectiles intercepted and destroyed in the incidents to eight, comprising two ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles and two drones.
The interceptions come amid a sharp escalation in Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including recent strikes targeting civilian airports and ballistic missile launches toward major cities.
Earlier Tuesday, Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, said the Houthis would bear the consequences of their repeated attacks on the Kingdom, including those targeting airports, the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and civilian and economic facilities.
The Saudi-led coalition also announced Tuesday that it had carried out a military operation targeting fuel storage and transport facilities used by the Houthis to support their war effort in Yemen.
Coalition spokesman al-Malki said the operation was aimed at disrupting the militia’s missile and drone capabilities, which he said posed threats to Saudi Arabia, Yemen and commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
