Saudi Arabia claims to intercept Houthi-fired missile

By Ahmed al-Masri

DOHA, Qatar

Saudi air defenses on Thursday intercepted a “ballistic missile” fired by Yemen’s Houthi militia group towards the Saudi city of Najran near the Saudi-Yemen border, Saudi news broadcaster Al-Arabiya has reported.

The television channel did not provide any additional details, while a Saudi-led coalition -- cobbled together in 2015 to fight the Houthis -- has yet to confirm the reported missile interception.

Last Friday, the coalition announced it had intercepted a Houthi missile that was also allegedly fired towards Najran from inside Yemeni territory.

On Wednesday, coalition spokesman Turki bin Saleh al-Maliki said a total of 87 missiles had been launched into Saudi territory from Yemen since the conflict began more than three years ago.

Yemen has remained dogged by war since 2014, when Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.

One year later, Saudi Arabia and its Sunni-Arab allies launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi territorial gains.

By Ahmed al-Masri

DOHA, Qatar

The television channel did not provide any additional details, while a Saudi-led coalition -- cobbled together in 2015 to fight the Houthis -- has yet to confirm the reported missile interception.

Last Friday, the coalition announced it had intercepted a Houthi missile that was also allegedly fired towards Najran from inside Yemeni territory.

On Wednesday, coalition spokesman Turki bin Saleh al-Maliki said a total of 87 missiles had been launched into Saudi territory from Yemen since the conflict began more than three years ago.

Yemen has remained dogged by war since 2014, when Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.

One year later, Saudi Arabia and its Sunni-Arab allies launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi territorial gains.