Saudi coalition downs Houthi missile fired from Yemen

DOHA, Qatar

A Saudi-led Arab coalition on Monday successfully intercepted a missile fired at the southern Saudi city of Jazan by Yemen’s Shia Houthi militia group, according to a coalition statement.

Saudi air defenses intercepted the missile -- which failed to cause any damage or casualties -- early Monday morning, the coalition asserted.

According to Saudi Arabia’s official press agency, coalition warplanes later destroyed the rocket platform used to fire the missile from Yemeni territory.

It was the second such reported missile interception within the last four days. On Thursday, the Saudi authorities announced the interception of a "ballistic missile" fired into Saudi territory by Houthi militiamen.

Yemen has been wracked by chaos since late 2014, when the Houthis and allied forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh overran capital Sanaa and other parts of the country.

The conflict escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched an air campaign aimed at reversing Houthi military gains in Yemen and shoring up Hadi’s pro-Saudi government.

Reporting by Ahmed al-Masri; Writing by Ali Abo Rezeg