Coalition says it intercepted Houthi missile fired from Yemen towards Taif

RIYADH — The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said early on Wednesday that it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen's Houthis towards the western Saudi city of Taif, according to Arab News.

The report describes the launch as part of intensifying cross-border hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned group. Arab News did not report any damage or casualties in Taif.

Alerts in Jeddah and Yanbu

According to Arab News, Saudi Civil Defense issued early warning alerts for a potential hostile threat in the Jeddah and Yanbu governorates. Minutes later, it said the danger had passed in both areas.

Earlier attacks on Tuesday

Arab News reported that debris from two intercepted ballistic missiles damaged a building, a construction project and a vehicle in Riyadh on Tuesday evening. It cited Saudi Civil Defense as its source.

A Civil Defense spokesperson said the Houthi militia launched the missiles and that they were destroyed before the debris fell in the Saudi capital, Arab News said. Civil Defense crews responded and followed established procedures, the spokesperson said. According to Arab News, the spokesperson did not say whether anyone was injured.

Arab News also reported that air defenses intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles aimed at the Eastern Province on Tuesday. They also shot down four drones targeting southern Saudi Arabia. Arab News attributed these figures to Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen.

Civil Defense issued warnings for the Eastern Province and Al-Kharj at about 3 a.m. local time, then gave the all-clear, according to the same report.

What is not confirmed

The Arab News report gives no details on where in Yemen the Taif missile was launched. It does not say whether debris fell in or near Taif. It also does not say whether the Houthis have claimed responsibility for the latest launches. Arab News did not report any injuries from the Riyadh incident, and the Civil Defense spokesperson did not address the question, according to the report. Zenga News has not independently verified the account.

Background

Arab News said the attacks came after senior regional officials gathered in Iran on Monday for talks aimed at reducing tensions. It did not name the officials or describe the outcome of the talks.

According to Arab News, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have attacked Saudi Arabia since they announced a blockade on Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea. The report does not give a date for that announcement or describe how the blockade is being enforced.

The coalition that Al-Maliki speaks for is described by Arab News as the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen. Arab News refers to it separately as the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

The report names Taif, Jeddah, Yanbu, Riyadh, Al-Kharj, the Eastern Province and southern Saudi Arabia as areas where launches were targeted or warnings were issued. Taif, Jeddah and Yanbu are in the west of the kingdom, according to the report's description of Taif as a western city.

All details in this report come from a single source, Arab News, which in turn relies on statements from the coalition and Saudi Civil Defense.