Saudi forces down two Houthi missiles
Debris from the intercepted ballistic missiles landed in Jeddah, Taif, and Rabigh following a wider Houthi attack on Saudi infrastructure.
By Imani Brooks ·
Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense announced on Saturday that it intercepted two ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels toward the Mecca and Medina regions. Fragments from the downed projectiles fell in the cities of Jeddah, Taif, and Rabigh.
The interceptions followed a Houthi claim that their forces struck multiple Saudi targets on the same day. The group said it hit a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu and the Rabigh oil refinery. It also reported attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, and the Najran airport.
Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the Houthi group, confirmed the targeting of an air base in Khamis Mushait alongside the other facilities. The coordinated strikes represent a direct challenge to Saudi economic hubs and transportation networks.
Earlier on Saturday, Houthi-linked Saba News Agency reported that Yemen's National Commission for Human Rights condemned Saudi actions in Sanaa. The commission described a massacre in the Asr neighborhood and an attack on a cement factory in the Hamdan district of Sanaa Governorate.
The US State Department updated its travel advisory for Israel on Friday, citing an increased threat from Iran-backed Houthi terrorists. The notice warned of a potential for rapid escalation in regional hostilities but kept Israel's travel classification at Level 3. Officials urged American citizens to reconsider travel due to terrorism and unrest, referencing previous Houthi strikes on Saudi civilian airports and critical infrastructure.
The State Department noted that prior attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and major travel disruptions. The current missile exchanges occur against this backdrop of heightened alert across the Middle East.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
