(Photo courtesy of Anadolu)
ISTANBUL — The Saudi-led coalition said Sunday it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile and a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi group toward southern Saudi Arabia.
Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki confirmed the interceptions in separate statements posted on social media platform X, initially announcing the destruction of a ballistic missile before reporting that air defenses had also shot down a drone.
Both projectiles were launched toward the kingdom’s southern region, according to the coalition.
The statements marked the coalition’s first reported interceptions on Sunday. Authorities did not identify the intended targets or provide information on possible casualties or damage.
Earlier, Saudi authorities issued emergency alerts in the southwestern city of Abha and Khamis Mushait governorate before declaring that the threats had passed.
The interceptions followed a military operation announced by the coalition hours earlier, targeting what it described as critical resources used by the Houthis to sustain their military operations and strengthen their ballistic missile and drone capabilities.
The coalition said the operation was intended to weaken the group’s ability to carry out further attacks.
Saudi Arabia has faced a series of missile and drone attacks attributed to the Houthis in recent weeks, raising security concerns in the kingdom’s southern regions.
