Two missiles never reached Khamis Mushait. Saudi air defences intercepted the missiles early Sunday as they approached the city in the southwest of the kingdom. The Saudi-led military coalition, which announced the interceptions, said Yemen’s Houthi militia had launched them toward Khamis Mushait, according to DPA.
Drones came with the missiles. Two were brought down near Riyadh and a third in the east of the country, coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said. Both missiles were intercepted and destroyed, he said. Damage and casualties went unmentioned.
The warning came first. Shortly before al-Maliki’s announcement, Saudi Civil Defense had sent out “potential danger” alerts through the national early warning system, covering Riyadh and the southwestern cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait, according to Anadolu Agency. The agency later said the danger had passed.
Saturday was no quieter. Over several hours, coalition forces intercepted and destroyed four drones that day — over the Riyadh region, the Eastern Province and the south, al-Maliki said.
Coalition footage, released with the announcement, was said to show strikes on two ballistic missile launchers in Saada, in northern Yemen, destroying them after they had fired missiles toward Saudi Arabia.
The exchanges have become routine. Since the Yemen war escalated again in July, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked Saudi Arabia, aiming at civilian airports and energy sites among other targets.
Saudi Arabia has led the coalition since March 2015, fighting for Yemen’s internationally recognized government against the Houthis, who took Sanaa in September 2014 and hold the capital and several other provinces to this day.
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