Riyadh. Saudi Arabia’s air defense system foiled an attempt by Iran-backed Houthi rebels to target one of the country’s vital cities. Officials say that two ballistic missiles fired towards Khamis Mushait city were successfully intercepted in the air and destroyed. The local administration and security agencies are on full alert after this incident.
According to the reports of Gulf News, Al Jazeera and Arab News, the Saudi-led coalition formed to restore the legitimate government in Yemen confirmed this dangerous attack and said that due to the missiles’ destruction in the air, some of their fragments fell on nearby buildings and vehicles. It is a matter of relief that there was no loss of life or property in this incident. The security forces immediately took charge and took stock of the situation.
Khamis Mushait is a major city located in the Asir Province of southwestern Saudi Arabia. The city is located about 27 kilometers east of Abha, the capital of Asir province. It is considered the fifth largest city of Saudi Arabia after Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca and Medina. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki says Houthi rebels fired two ballistic missiles from the border with Yemen towards Khamis Mushait airbase just after midnight on Monday. They were stopped and destroyed.
Earlier, the Saudi Civil Defense Agency had issued a warning to Khamis Mushait to be alert about possible danger. The spokesperson of the alliance gave information about this development through X Post. The coalition had said on Monday that it was responding to the attack with drones and cruise missiles. The Houthis have targeted Saudi Arabia’s airports and oil bases.
13 people have died in Houthi attacks on King Khalid International Airport on Saturday. Four people were killed in the attacks on Wednesday and Thursday, and another person was killed on Sunday. On Monday, operations at this major airport located on the outskirts of Riyadh remained closed.
US citizens detained: The US Embassy in Riyadh said on Monday that US citizens filming the recent attacks in Saudi Arabia have been detained, but did not specify their number. The embassy said that now US government employees will have to obtain approval from Saudi Arabia before using any airport.
70 countries condemned the attack: Saudi Arabian officials said Islamic Affairs Minister Abdul Latif al-Sheikh had received messages from 176 ministers and scholars from 70 countries. They all condemned the Houthi attacks, saying they threatened the safety of the two holy mosques of Mecca and Medina, civilians and pilgrims. There is a threat to the stability of the entire region. Saleh bin Fauzan bin Abdullah al-Fauzan, Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, described the attacks as “one of the biggest crimes.”