The key facts

  • On November 8, the air defense of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile
  • The previous interception took place on November 7
  • On November 4, the Houthis claimed a strike on Riyadh airport

Another interception in two days

The Arabian coalition forces led by Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile of the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement (the Houthis). The alliance's official spokesman Turki al-Maliki announced this on the social network X: 'Air defense forces intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile.' As of publication, the Houthis had not commented — Gazeta.Ru.

Context of the recent attacks

This is already the second interception in a row: the previous Houthi missile was shot down on November 7. On November 4, the Houthis themselves claimed a ballistic missile strike on Riyadh airport, asserting that the air hub had sustained direct hits and significant damage. Earlier, the rebels also attacked the building of the Saudi Ministry of Defense.

Where the escalation came from

The escalation in the region began in mid-July, when pro-government forces of Yemen attacked Sanaa airport as a plane from Iran carrying a Houthi delegation was landing. The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia for the incident and declared war on it; since then, the sides have regularly exchanged strikes. Thus, the interceptions of November 7 and 8 fit into the exchange of strikes ongoing since the summer, and the reports contain no confirmed signs of it abating.