Saudi Coalition Intercepts Missile Over Medina
The military coalition led by Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday that it intercepted a cruise missile over Medina, a province hosting one of the holiest cities in Islam.
Additionally, the coalition shared new footage showing Houthi missile attacks targeting civilian airports in Saudi Arabia. The Houthis have expressed no plans to stop these strikes, despite increasing condemnation from various Middle Eastern countries.
While the Saudi coalition did not explicitly blame the Houthis for the missile intercepted over Medina, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree took the opportunity in a recent press conference to deny any involvement in the attack.
Saree labeled the Saudi claims regarding an attack on Medina as “a great and immense falsehood.” The Saudis have, however, previously accused the Houthis of carrying out an attack on an electric power distribution station in Medina earlier this month, which the Houthis dismissed as a “lie.”
Moreover, the Houthis have also refuted any involvement in a drone assault on Mecca, which occurred on September 15 and was met with widespread denunciation from nearly every Muslim nation, except Iran.
Though the Houthis deny some actions, they have acknowledged launching attacks on civilian sites in other Saudi cities, including missile strikes on airports and oil facilities. Saree claimed that one missile successfully struck an airport in Riyadh.
On Thursday, the Houthis reiterated their warning that the airspace over Saudi Arabia is now unsafe for all airlines. Saree indicated that further assaults on oil facilities and airports “deep inside Saudi Arabia” are imminent.
In another development, the Houthis have targeted areas under the internationally recognized Yemeni government, including the presidential palace in Aden, a city that has served as a government base since the Houthis took control of Sanaa in 2014.
The Yemeni government confirmed the Houthi attack, reporting casualties among security personnel at the palace. The statement emphasized that Aden will continue hosting state operations to serve its citizens.
Yemen’s Information Minister, Moammar al-Eryani, assured the public that the Prime Minister and other government officials are safe, labeling the Houthi actions a “terrorist” attack involving at least five ballistic missiles. The Houthis, in turn, argued their target was a military base and ammunition store associated with Saudi troops within the palace grounds.
The Saudi coalition has also released additional footage showcasing around 20 drone and missile attacks directed by the Houthis at King Khalid Airport in Riyadh between October 1 and 11.
In response to these escalating threats, the French government on Wednesday strongly advised its citizens against traveling to Saudi Arabia, particularly to King Khalid International Airport and two other significant airports in Jeddah and Dammam, suggesting travel should only occur if absolutely necessary.
Reports circulating in Lebanese media also cited Saree claiming the Houthis successfully destroyed a Saudi Typhoon fighter jet as it was preparing to strike Houthi positions in Yemen. Saree stated that on Wednesday alone, the Saudis conducted 42 air and missile strikes targeting civilian areas in Sanaa and several other cities.
