SAUDI-LED COALITION SAYS IT INTERCEPTED TWO HOUTHI MISSILES

The Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthis towards Taif and Yanbu on Saturday. Saudi Arabia said fragments from intercepted missiles fell in Jeddah, Taif and Rabigh. Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence warned residents of possible danger in Taif, Yanbu, Mecca and Jeddah. About 10 minutes later, the agency said the threat had passed. The Houthis also claimed attacks on Saudi oil facilities and major airports.

The interceptions followed Houthi claims on Thursday that the group had attacked Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry in Riyadh, Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Saudi authorities said two people were killed in Dammam; they have not confirmed the reported attacks in Riyadh or Yanbu. Six people familiar with the matter said Saudi Aramco told staff to leave its headquarters in Dhahran. The coalition said it intercepted drones over Riyadh and Medina on Thursday. The Houthis denied launching drones towards Medina on Wednesday after the coalition reported interceptions there and in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern region.

The Houthis warned airlines earlier this month against using Saudi airspace, except over Mecca and Medina. The Saudi-led coalition backs Yemen’s internationally recognised government, while the Houthis control Sanaa. A United Nations-brokered truce in 2022 had largely halted cross-border attacks between the two sides. The renewed fighting has broken that truce and added a front to the US-Israeli war on Iran.