Saudi intercepts missile fired from Yemeni territory

Riyadh : A ballistic missile from Yemeni territory that headed towards Saudi Arabia was intercepted late Saturday, the Arab Coalition said, in the midst of nationwide celebrations to mark the founding of the Kingdom.

The ballistic missile targeted Khamis Mushait, which houses the Saudi-led coalition’s main airbase for its operations in Yemen, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said quoting Col. Turki Al-Maliki, official spokesman of the Arab Coalition in Support of the Legitimacy in Yemen, as saying.

It added that the missile was intercepted without casualties or damage.

“The Saudi Royal Air Force discovered the launch of a ballistic missile from within Yemeni territory,” SPA said.

“The coalition forces then targeted the launch site.”

The attack came as Saudi Arabia celebrated its national day across the Kingdom with a raucous display of concerts, folk dance and fireworks.

Occasional ballistic missile attacks, as well as more frequent short-range rocket fire over the southern border, have in the past been conducted after coalition air strikes against the rebels in Yemen.

Last week, the head of the rebels threatened to fire missiles at the United Arab Emirates and to attack Saudi tankers in the Red Sea.

The Huthis and their allies, former members of Yemen’s security forces linked to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, began retaliatory attacks against the Kingdom two years ago.

“The armed militias’ continuous targeting of cities with ballistic missiles is the biggest evidence of their continued smuggling of weapons into Yemen especially through the port of Hodeidah which is under the control of the coup militias,” SPA said.

The coalition intervened in the country in March 2015 to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.