The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen announced on Saturday that Saudi air defenses had successfully intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi group toward the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki said that the Houthis’ repeated attempts to target civilians and civilian infrastructure in Riyadh represented an ongoing escalation, noting that the Saudi capital is home to more than 8 million residents and citizens.
Al-Maliki added that Saudi air defenses had also thwarted attempts to target the cities of Bish, Taif, Farasan, and Yanbu. He said the coalition retains what he described as the “inherent right” to take measures it deems appropriate to deter such attacks, in accordance with international humanitarian law and customary rules.
Earlier on Saturday, the Houthi group announced that it had carried out military operations targeting Riyadh with a large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones. It also claimed to have targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu.
