(Photo courtesy of Anadolu)
ISTANBUL – The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen announced early Friday that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile allegedly launched by the Houthi group toward western Saudi Arabia.
Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki confirmed the interception in a statement amid renewed hostilities between coalition forces and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
The latest incident followed a series of reported missile attacks and military operations by both sides, raising concerns over escalating tensions in the region.
On Thursday, the coalition reported intercepting and destroying two ballistic missiles allegedly fired by the Houthis toward Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
The Houthis, meanwhile, claimed responsibility for six separate attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia, including oil facilities and airports.
The competing announcements came as both sides continued military operations, with attacks targeting strategic infrastructure and other locations.
The Saudi-led coalition has been involved in Yemen’s civil war since March 2015, backing the country’s internationally recognized government against the Houthis.
The conflict intensified after the Houthi movement seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in September 2014.
The latest reported missile interceptions underscore continuing security concerns in Saudi Arabia and the broader region as hostilities persist.
