JEDDAH: Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, Col. Turki Al-Maliki, said that at 8:22 pm local time (5:22 pm GMT) Saudi air defense forces intercepted a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militia from within Yemeni territory toward the Kingdom.
Al-Maliki explained that the missile were launched from Saada province toward the southwestern city of Jazan, and was deliberately launched to target civilian and populated areas.
“The Saudi Royal Air Defense Force succeeded in intercepting and destroying the missile, which did not result in any injuries,” he said.
Al-Maliki added that this hostile act by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia proves the Iranian regime’s continued involvement in supporting the terrorist group in clear and explicit defiance of UN resolution 2216 and resolution 2231.
He noted the Houthi attacks are aimed at threatening the Kingdom’s security, as well as regional and international security and the firing of ballistic missiles at populated towns and villages is contrary to international humanitarian law.
The total number of ballistic missiles launched by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia toward Saudi Arabia so far has reached 186 rockets.
Saudi Arabia intercepts ballistic missile launched by Houthi militia towards Jazan
Saudi Arabia intercepts ballistic missile launched by Houthi militia towards Jazan
Saudi defense chief rallies international support amid escalating Iranian strikes
- Iran unleashes wave of drone strikes on Kingdom’s Eastern Province
- Missiles fired at Prince Sultan Air Base intercepted, destroyed
RIYADH: Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held separate phone calls with his Turkish, Romanian, and South Korean counterparts as Iranian attacks on Gulf facilities continued on Thursday.
Iran escalated strikes on its Gulf neighbors in retaliation for ongoing US-Israeli attacks on Iranian territory.
After a brief pause Wednesday, drone attacks on Saudi Arabia resumed at 9 p.m., targeting the Eastern Province and the Shaybah oil field in the Empty Quarter. All the drones were stopped, the Saudi Ministry of Defense confirmed.
Missiles aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj were also intercepted and shot down, the ministry added.
In his call with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Prince Khalid reaffirmed commitment to joint security measures and condemned Iranian aggression.
His conversation with Romanian counterpart Radu Miruta covered regional threats to global stability.
A call with South Korea’s Ahn Gyu-back similarly focused on condemning Iran’s actions and reviewing the broader regional picture.
The crisis traces back to February 28, when US and Israeli forces struck Iran. Tehran has since targeted Gulf states and US-Israeli assets across the region.
Iran has also declared a blockade on energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas flows — sending commodity prices surging.
