Yemen's Houthis fire ballistic missiles across Saudi border

Saudi-led coalition says Houthis fired two missiles, which landed in uninhabited border areas.

2 min read

16 March, 2021

The Houthis also fired drones at the King Khalid air base in Khamis Mushait [Getty]

Yemen's Houthis fired two ballistic missiles into an uninhabited border area in southern Saudi Arabia, the Riyadh-led coalition fighting the Iran-backed rebels said in a statement on Monday.

The Houthi rebels also aimed drones at the King Khalid air base in Khamis Mushait in southern Saudi Arabia, the group's military spokesperson said on Tuesday, claiming the target was hit.

The coalition said it intercepted an explosive drone fired towards Khamis Mushait, adding it also destroyed a bunker for ballistic missiles and launch pads in the northern Yemen province of Saada, from where missiles were launched.

"We are taking operational measures to neutralize and destroy sources of threat to protect civilians," the coalition said, adding that its military offensive complies with international law.

Read also: Israel's Netanyahu avoided Saudi airspace 'because of Houthi missiles'

Cross-border attacks against the kingdom by the Houthis have increased in recent weeks, with the Saudi-led coalition having reported intercepting several barrages of drones.

Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen's war in March 2015 to restore the authority of exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

The war in Yemen has spawned the world's worst humanitarian crisis, leaving millions suffering from food and medical shortages.

It has killed some 130,000 people, including fighters and civilians, according to a database project that tracks the violence.

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