Saudi Arabia intercepts missiles from Yemen

Saudi Arabia's air defences intercepted two ballistic missiles fired from Tehran-backed rebels in Yemen, hours after Trump pulled out of the landmark Iran deal.
2 min read
09 May, 2018
The Houthis have become increasingly daring in their attacks on Saudi Arabia [Getty]
Two ballistic missiles were intercepted by Saudi Arabia's air defences on Wednesday, state television reported, hours after Riyadh said it supported new US sanctions on Iran.

Four loud explosions were heard in Riyadh in the morning.

A spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition confirmed that Saudi air defences had intercepted hours earlier another ballistic missile originating from Yemen and targeting the country's southern city of Jizan.

Colonel Turki al-Maliki blamed the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen for the attack.

Yemen's Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV confirmed the rebels had carried out attacks on Saudi Arabia and that the missiles hit their targets with "high accuracy."

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have fired ballistic missiles into the Kingdom in the past, which have been intercepted by Riyadh.

The Houthis have become increasingly daring in their attacks on Saudi Arabia, including attempted strikes on the capital Riyadh.

In March, an Egyptian labourer became the first known fatality in a rebel missile attack on the Saudi capital.

Saudi Arabia accuses its arch-rival Iran of smuggling missiles to the Houthis - a charge Tehran denies.

The latest explosions come after US president Donald Trump pulled out of a landmark nuclear deal with Iran - a move backed by Riyadh.

"The kingdom supports and welcomes the steps announced by the US president towards withdrawing from the nuclear deal... and reinstating economic sanctions against Iran," the foreign ministry said.

Saudi Arabia has previously responded to missile attacks with airstrikes.

Since March 2015, Riyadh has led a coalition of Arab states fighting to roll back the Houthis in Yemen and restore its neighbour's internationally-recognised government to power.

Nearly 10,000 people have since been killed in the conflict, in what the United Nations has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis.