Saudi Arabia shoots down Houthi missiles near holy cities, debris lands in three ports
Yemeni rebels targeted oil refineries and airports across the Kingdom as U.S. officials warned of rising regional tensions.
By Evelyn Adeyemi ·
Two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi movement in Yemen were intercepted by Saudi forces on Saturday, according to the Kingdom's Civil Defense. The projectiles were aimed at the Mecca and Medina regions. Fragments from the downed missiles fell in Jeddah, Taif, and Rabigh.
The interceptions followed a Houthi claim of coordinated attacks on Saudi infrastructure. Yahya Saree, the group's military spokesperson, stated that forces targeted a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu, the Rabigh oil refinery, and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Saree said the Houthis also struck King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Najran airport, and an air base in Khamis Mushait.
Earlier in the day, the Saba News Agency, which is linked to the Houthis, reported that Yemen's National Commission for Human Rights condemned Saudi airstrikes in the capital, Sanaa. The commission described an incident in the Asr neighborhood as a massacre and reported damage to a cement factory in the Hamdan district.
The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory for Israel on Friday, citing the threat of armed attacks by Iran-backed Houthis. The department warned of potential rapid escalation in regional hostilities. The advisory classification for Israel remained at Level 3, urging American citizens to reconsider travel due to terrorism and unrest.
The State Department noted that previous Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia have affected civilian airports and critical infrastructure. Those attacks resulted in civilian casualties and major disruptions to travel. The new warning did not alter existing risk indicators or restrictions for specific areas of Israel.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
