Saudi air defenses intercept Houthi missile over Riyadh

Updated 20 December 2017
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Saudi air defenses intercept Houthi missile over Riyadh

JEDDAH: Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen fired another ballistic missile at Riyadh on Tuesday, this time targeting Al-Yamamah Royal Palace in the Saudi capital.
“The missile was intercepted by Saudi Patriot defense systems south of Riyadh, causing the debris to scatter,” the Saudi-led Arab Coalition for the support of the legitimate Yemeni government said.  Coalition spokesperson Col. Turki Al-Maliki said no one was injured, and no property was damaged.
The Houthis launched a missile at Riyadh on Nov. 4, targeting King Khalid International Airport. Royal Saudi Air Defense forces intercepted the missile and shot it down, and there was no damage. 
A UN Security Council-appointed panel confirmed the missile was manufactured in Iran, along with three other missiles fired from Yemen toward the Kingdom this year.
On Thursday, the US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said the US had “concrete proof” that Iran was providing the Houthis in Yemen with ballistic missiles in direct violation of the international arms embargo on Yemen and the weapons export ban on Iran.
“This aggressive and outrageous act by the Houthi militias is further proof of the involvement of the Iranian regime in supporting and supplying this terrorist group with weapons, which constitutes a clear challenge to and violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 2216 and 2231, posing a threat to the security of the Kingdom as well as the region and the wider world,” Al-Maliki said after Tuesday’s attack. 
Targeting residential areas with missiles was a violation of international law, he said. He called on the international community to take active measures to curb Iran’s supply of arms to “terrorists and outlaws” in the region and to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its behavior.

 


Students explore AI, robotics with MIT expert

Updated 15 December 2025
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Students explore AI, robotics with MIT expert

RIYADH: Misk Schools in Riyadh has hosted specialized workshops in robotics and artificial intelligence, introducing students to research led by prominent Saudi experts.

Saudi researcher Sharifa Al-Ghowinem, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, visited as part of the initiative, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

She worked over three sessions with students from the early years and upper elementary grades on activities focused on basic shapes and block-based programming.

Older students undertook more advanced tasks involving robotic drawing.

The interactive workshops gave students direct guidance and insight into ongoing research at MIT.

Dr. Steffen Sommer, director general of Misk Schools, said Al-Ghowinem’s work extended beyond technical achievement.

He said: “Her research reflects a Saudi vision that is shaping global scientific inquiry at MIT.

“Her visit gave Misk Schools’ students a unique opportunity to engage directly with a scientist advancing human-robot interaction in both Arabic and English.”