Saudi forces intercept ballistic missiles over Riyadh and Jazan; 2 civilians injured by falling debris

Coalition confirms a missile was intercepted. (AN photo)
Short Url
Updated 29 March 2020
Follow

Saudi forces intercept ballistic missiles over Riyadh and Jazan; 2 civilians injured by falling debris

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s air defense forces shot down ballistic missiles toward Riyadh and the southern city of Jazan late on Saturday.

Col. Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led Arab coalition helping Yemen's legitimate government, said the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces intercepted and destroyed at 11:23 p.m. on Saturday two ballistic missiles over Riyadh.

At least one missile has also been intercepted over the southern city of Jazan, according to Al Arabiya sources.

Al-Maliki said the missiles were fired by the "Houthi terrorist militia" from Sanaa and Saada in Yemen toward civilian objects and civilians in the Kingdom.

Lt. Col. Mohammed Al Hammadi, media spokesperson for the Civil Defense in the Riyadh region, said two civilians from separate neighborhoods in the capital were injured by falling debris from the intercepted missiles as they exploded in mid-air.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi terrorists have previously targeted Riyadh and other Saudi cities with missiles, rockets and drones.

Three explosions were heard in the curfew-locked capital before midnight amid efforts to curb the coronavirus pandemic, residents said on social media.

It was the first major assault on Saudi Arabia since the Houthis offered last September to halt attacks on the Kingdom after devastating twin strikes on Saudi oil installations.

 


Saudi data platform enhanced with agentic AI as Kingdom drives digital innovation at Davos

Updated 7 sec ago
Follow

Saudi data platform enhanced with agentic AI as Kingdom drives digital innovation at Davos

  • Feedback from stakeholders has been positive, says MEP official

DAVOS: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Economy and Planning is leveraging agentic artificial intelligence to transform access to economic data and extract deeper insights through its Data Saudi platform, a ministry official told Arab News.

In an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Abdulaziz Azzouqa, the executive director of digital innovation and AI at the MEP, highlighted enhancements to Data Saudi, which presents and analyzes a wide range of the Kingdom’s economic and social indicators.

The platform is now equipped with agentic AI that allows users to query, visualize and download customized datasets, generating deeper insights for policymakers, investors and researchers.

Azzouqa said: “(It) allows users to ask anywhere, from simple questions to specific or complex questions, and the platform responds in a structured format and allows additional features.”

The platform instantly generates visual reports and this enables “more seamless access to quality economic data,” he added.

The ministry has also launched the Data Explorer platform, which allows stakeholders to customize datasets and access the full Data Saudi database.

AI and technological innovation have been central to discussions in Davos this year, with Saudi officials emphasizing the Kingdom’s role as a reliable partner in addressing global challenges such as digital transformation, sustainability, and human capital.

Experts speaking at Saudi House, the Kingdom’s pavilion at Davos, and in related panels have underscored the importance of inclusive, AI-powered data ecosystems in driving economic competitiveness, sustainable development, and people-centered growth.

Azzouqa said feedback from stakeholders had been positive, adding that enhancements to Data Saudi will continue, positioning Saudi Arabia at the forefront of data-driven policymaking and innovation in the region.