The key facts

  • The coalition intercepted a drone over the Eastern Province without specifying who launched it
  • Al-Masirah reported artillery shelling of the Ed-Dahir district in Saada province
  • The escalation began in July after a period of calm that followed the April 2022 truce

Drone interception and reports of shelling

The Saudi-led coalition said early on Friday that it had intercepted and destroyed a drone flying toward the kingdom's Eastern Province. The brief statement did not specify who launched the device or what its target was; no information on casualties or damage was provided. At the same time, the Houthi television channel Al-Masirah reported artillery shelling in the Ed-Dahir district of Saada province, which borders Saudi Arabia.

Previous incidents and mutual statements

The incidents occurred amid an ongoing escalation between the coalition and the Houthis. On Thursday, the coalition announced the interception of a cruise missile over the Medina region in the west of the country. The Houthis' military spokesman Yahya Saree denied that the group had attacked Saudi territory that day. A day earlier, the coalition reported the interception and destruction of a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis toward Riyadh: according to the coalition, falling debris wounded one person and caused minor damage to property.

Context of the conflict

The latest events follow a series of attacks on Saudi airports and energy facilities. Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition in support of the internationally recognized government of Yemen against the Houthis, who have controlled Sanaa and a number of other provinces since 2014. The current escalation began in July after a period of relative calm that followed a truce brokered by the UN and in effect since April 2022.