Saudi Arabia shoots down Houthi missiles aimed at holy cities
Debris from intercepted rockets landed in Jeddah and Taif as Yemen's Houthis claimed attacks on oil plants and airports.
By Maya Almasi ·
Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthis on Saturday.
Civil Defense officials reported that the missiles were aimed at the Mecca and Medina regions. Fragments from the intercepted projectiles fell in several areas, including Jeddah, Taif, and Rabigh.
The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, announced that the group also targeted key infrastructure. His list included King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The group said it struck the Najran airport and an air base in Khamis Mushait.
Saree claimed attacks on Saudi energy assets as well. The Houthis identified a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu and the Rabigh oil refinery as targets. These strikes occurred after Houthi-linked Saba News Agency reported that Yemen's National Commission for Human Rights condemned Saudi actions in the capital. The group described a massacre in the Asr neighborhood of Sanaa and an attack on a cement factory in the Hamdan district.
The United States State Department updated its travel advisory for Israel on Friday. The notice warned American citizens of an increased threat from armed attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces. Officials cited previous Houthi strikes on Saudi civilian airports and critical infrastructure that caused travel disruptions. Israel's travel advisory remains at Level 3, urging reconsideration of travel due to terrorism and unrest.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
