3 hrs ago
Houthis Claim Riyadh Attacks as Saudi Arabia Intercepts Missile
Saudi Arabia said the Houthis launched a missile toward its capital, Riyadh.
Saudi officials said their air defenses stopped and destroyed it.
People heard explosions, and authorities told residents to stay indoors.
A fire also started at a fuel depot near Riyadh’s airport.
The reports do not establish whether the missile caused the fire.
The Houthis said they carried out attacks using missiles and drones.
They said the attacks were retaliation for Saudi strikes in Yemen.
The fighting has displaced more than 112,000 people and pushed thousands more toward Djibouti.
Saudi Arabia said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched toward Riyadh at dawn Saturday.
A fire broke out on an Aramco-logo fuel tank at a depot near King Khalid International Airport; its cause was not established.
The Houthis claimed two operations using ballistic and cruise missiles and drones against sites in Riyadh and an Aramco facility in Yanbu.
Saudi Arabia said additional attacks targeting Bisha, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu were thwarted.
The United Nations said renewed fighting displaced more than 112,000 people, while nearly 3,000 fled across the sea to Djibouti.
- Who
- The Saudi-led coalition and Yemen’s Houthi movement are involved; Saudi Arabia supports Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
- What
- Saudi Arabia reported intercepting a ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh, while the Houthis claimed attacks on targets in Riyadh and Yanbu.
- Where
- Riyadh and other Saudi locations, including Yanbu, Bisha, Taif and Farasan; the wider conflict is in Yemen.
- When
- At dawn on Saturday, following an overnight aerial-threat alert; the broader escalation intensified in recent weeks or since mid-July, according to differing reports.
- Why
- The Houthis said the attacks responded to Saudi airstrikes and restrictions on Yemen, while Saudi Arabia said it was defending civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Saudi-led coalition
Houthi movement
What happened in Riyadh
Saudi-led coalition
The coalition said the Houthis launched a ballistic missile toward Riyadh and that Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed it.
Houthi movement
The Houthis said they conducted successful operations against sensitive sites in Riyadh and did not accept the coalition’s account.
Civilian responsibility
Saudi-led coalition
Saudi Arabia said the attacks targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure and vowed appropriate measures to deter further attacks.
Houthi movement
The Houthis denied deliberately targeting civilians and said their operations were retaliation for Saudi airstrikes in Yemen.
Conditions for ending the escalation
Saudi-led coalition
Saudi Arabia has carried out airstrikes on Houthi-held areas and says it is responding to threats.
Houthi movement
The Houthis said retaliatory operations would continue until Saudi airstrikes cease and restrictions on Yemen are lifted.
Key facts
- Reported missile target
- Riyadh
- Saudi account
- The coalition said a ballistic missile was intercepted and destroyed at dawn Saturday.
- Fire location
- A fuel depot near King Khalid International Airport, involving a tank bearing Aramco’s logo.
- Houthi account
- The Houthis claimed two successful operations using ballistic and cruise missiles and drones.
- Additional reported targets
- Bisha, Taif, Farasan and Yanbu.
- Reported airport disruption
- King Khalid International Airport experienced major flight disruptions before normal traffic began to resume.
- Humanitarian impact
- More than 112,000 people were displaced and nearly 3,000 fled across the sea to Djibouti, according to the United Nations.
Quotes
Turki al-Malki
Spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition
“Saudi Arabia's air force "successfully intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi terrorist militia towards the city of Riyadh at dawn on Saturday,"”
firstpost.com
deccanchronicle.com
“two successful military operations using a large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones”
firstpost.com
deccanchronicle.com
thehansindia.com
Anna Jacobs
Analyst at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington
“My read is that Saudi Arabia is entering into a phase of escalation with the Houthis and will respond, but they know the only way this ends is through negotiations. But both sides have a say in when that can happen and both sides seem locked in the escalation trap at this stage.”
firstpost.com
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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