The key facts

  • The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile and drone aimed at the country's south
  • Before that, emergency warnings were declared in Abha and the Khamis Mushait governorate
  • The coalition said it carried out an operation against Houthi resources, including missiles and drones

Interception of a missile and a drone

The Saudi-led coalition announced on Sunday that its air defense forces intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile, and later a drone, launched by the Houthi group toward the southern regions of the kingdom. Both statements were made by the coalition's official spokesman Turki al-Maliki on his account on the social network X. These were the first reports of interceptions on Sunday; neither statement specified the alleged targets of the attacks, nor did they report any casualties or damage.

Alert in Abha and Khamis Mushait

Earlier on Sunday, before the interception announcements, Saudi authorities issued emergency warnings in the city of Abha and the Khamis Mushait governorate in the country's southwest, and later reported that the threat in both areas had passed. According to the Anadolu agency, a few hours earlier the coalition had announced a military operation to 'neutralize vital resources' that the Houthis use to support their war effort and build up their capabilities, primarily in ballistic missiles and drones. The outlet also noted that Saudi Arabia has faced repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks in recent weeks.