Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missiles heading toward Mecca, Jeddah
Saudi Arabia’s air forces on Monday intercepted two
Houthi ballistic missiles over Taif, one heading for Mecca and the other for
Jeddah, according to eyewitnesses.
The Kingdom's air defense forces were able to
destroy the ballistic missiles.
Saudi authorities are expected to issue a formal
statement later.
In light of the attack, the Yemeni government said
that it strongly condemns the Houthi attempt to target Mecca, adding that the
attack on the holy site is “a full-fledged terrorist act”.
Earlier in March, Yemen’s Houthi militias warned
they could launch attacks against the capitals of Saudi Arabia and the United
Arab Emirates.
“We have aerial photographs and coordinates of
dozens of headquarters, facilities and military bases of the enemy,” Houthi
militia spokesman Yahya Saree had said in comments carried by the militia’s
Al-Masirah channel.
“The legitimate targets of our forces extend to the
capital of Saudi Arabia and to the emirate of Abu Dhabi,” he said.
The Iran-linked Houthi militias have targeted Saudi
border towns and Riyadh with ballistic missiles and also claimed drone attacks
on the airports of Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the past.
