The Saudi-led coalition has intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militia towards southern Saudi Arabia, coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al Maliki said on Monday.
Al Maliki announced the interception in a statement but provided no details about the missile’s intended target or possible casualties.
The incident comes amid escalating cross-border attacks by the Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia.
In recent days, the coalition has reported intercepting several ballistic missiles targeting Riyadh and eastern Saudi Arabia, as well as drones launched towards the country’s southern region.
Emergency alerts issued
Earlier, Saudi Arabia briefly activated emergency alerts in the southwestern cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait, as well as Taif in the west, before announcing that the danger had passed.
The warnings were issued through the National Early Warning Platform for Emergencies, according to separate statements by the Saudi Civil Defence.
The agency later confirmed that the danger had passed in all three areas, urging residents to follow its instructions and refrain from gathering or filming.
The statements did not specify the nature of the threat or report any casualties or damage.
Renewed hostilities
The alerts came amid renewed fighting between the Houthi militia and the Saudi-led coalition.
Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition against the Houthi militias since March 2015, after the group seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and other parts of the country in 2014.
Years of conflict have caused a severe humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
