Saudi-led coalition intercepts Houthi ballistic missile targeting kingdom’s west

Jeddah, Yanbu receive all-clear after emergency alerts; debris from earlier interceptions damages property in Riyadh

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile fired toward the western Saudi city of Taif early on Wednesday as authorities issued emergency alerts in Jeddah and Yanbu.

Saudi Civil Defence later announced the all-clear in both areas. It did not specify the threat that had prompted the warnings.

The coalition’s statement provided no information about casualties or damage from the interception.

The developments followed damage in Riyadh from debris after air defences intercepted two Houthi ballistic missiles late on Tuesday.

Read: Houthis claim attacks on defence ministry building in Riyadh, Abha international airport

Fragments damaged a building, a construction project and a vehicle, Civil Defence said, without reporting any casualties.

The coalition also announced earlier Tuesday that it intercepted four drones and three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis toward the kingdom.

The interceptions came amid escalating hostilities between the Houthi group and the Saudi-led coalition, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition against the Houthis since March 2015 after the group seized the Yemeni capital Sanaa and other parts of the country in 2014.