Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missiles fired near Jizan

The Saudi-led military coalition has said that two Houthi missiles were intercepted on Friday after being fired at the southwestern coast of the kingdom.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab & agencies

11 August, 2018

Saudi Arabia has been locked in conflict in Yemen since 2015 [Getty]

Saudi Arabia on Friday intercepted two missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The missiles, which were reportedly launched from Yemen's Saada governorate, were aimed at the southwestern Saudi port city of Jizan.

According to the Saudi-led military coalition's spokesman, Col. Turki al-Maliki, the missiles were detected at 4:55pm local time. The Saudi Royal Air Defense Force then intercepted and destroyed the two missiles.

No casualties were reported.

Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and their allies have been locked in conflict with Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

The Saudi-led coalition has sought to restore the authority of Yemen's UN-backed President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, however the conflict has largely remained in a stalemate.

Riyadh accuses its regional rival Tehran of supplying the Houthis with ballistic missiles, a charge Iran denies.

The war in the impoverished country has left more than 13,000 people dead and unleashed what the UN has branded as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.