Saudi Arabia thwarts Houthi missile attack on capital Riyadh: military

Fragments of the missile scattered over several Riyadh neighbourhoods, damaging at least one home but no casualties were reported

The Iran-backed Houthis have escalated their attacks while they step up an offensive to seize the Saudi-backed Yemeni government’s last stronghold

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Houthi fighters ride on a truck in Sana’a, Yemen, earlier this month. Photo: EPA

Published: 2:38pm, 28 Feb 2021Updated: 2:38pm, 28 Feb 2021

Loud explosions shook Riyadh on Saturday as a Saudi-led military coalition said it thwarted a missile attack launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, which sent debris raining down on civilian homes.

The Iran-backed Houthis have escalated attacks on the kingdom, while they step up an offensive to seize the Saudi-backed Yemeni government’s last northern stronghold of Marib.

The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile targeting Riyadh, according to the official SPA news agency.

Fragments of the missile scattered over several Riyadh neighbourhoods, damaging at least one home but no casualties were reported, state-run Al-Ekhbariya television said.

Correspondents in the Saudi capital reported hearing multiple loud explosions. The night sky lit up with a bright flash following the interception of a missile, state television footage showed.

Separately, the coalition said it intercepted six Houthi drones targeting the kingdom, including the southern cities of Khamis Mushait and Jizan.