The key facts

  • Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan condemned the attempted attack on the Medina region and expressed solidarity with Riyadh
  • The Saudi Arabia-led coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile and shot down a Houthi drone over the Eastern Province
  • The Houthis deny that Medina was the target of the attack

Missile interception and the reaction of Arab capitals

The Saudi Arabia-led coalition announced on Thursday that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen's Houthi movement toward the Medina region, and also shot down a Houthi drone over the kingdom's Eastern Province. This was reported by the Turkish agency Anadolu. The Houthis, for their part, rejected claims that they had targeted Medina.

Statements by the foreign ministries of four countries

Condemnations followed the same day from Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, each of which affirmed full solidarity with Riyadh. Qatar's Foreign Ministry called the attack attempt a

Bahrain and Jordan: holy sites and the UN Charter

Bahrain's Foreign Ministry stressed that a strike on Medina threatens not only civilians and pilgrims visiting the Prophet's Mosque, but also violates the sanctity of Islamic holy sites, insulting Muslims around the world. Bahrain once again called on the UN Security Council to take firm and deterrent measures to stop the recurring Houthi attacks and to hold the perpetrators and their backers accountable. Jordan described the attack attempt as a provocation of Muslims' feelings and a violation of Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and the UN Charter, also expressing support for all measures taken by the kingdom to protect its security.

Context of the conflict

According to the agency, Yemen has been engulfed in civil war since September 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and other areas. The Saudi Arabia-led Arab coalition has been supporting the internationally recognized Yemeni government since March 2015. In recent weeks, fighting has intensified: the Houthis have been carrying out repeated missile and drone strikes on Saudi territory. It should be noted separately that the report of the missile interception comes from the coalition itself, while the Houthis deny attacking Medina — the publication contains no independent confirmation of the details of the incident.