Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s air defence on Monday intercepted seven ballistic missiles which the authorities claim to be fired by Houthi militia in Yemen, reported the Arab News.
A spokesperson of the the Arab Coalition helping Yemen’s ‘legitimate government’ said that three of the missiles were fired toward Riyadh, two toward Jazan, and one each toward Khamis Mushayt and Najran.
The spokesperson was quoted by the Saudi state news channel Al Ekhbariya.
According to the news channel, the target of the missiles were residential areas and an expat from Egypt was killed and two have been injured.
WATCH #Saudi Patriot missiles intercepting missiles fired by #Iran-backed #Houthi militia from #Yemen toward Riyadh on Sunday night. Seven Houthi missiles were shot down.https://t.co/MGskjzyao9 pic.twitter.com/wBKOmHMSfY
— Arab News (@arabnews) March 25, 2018
Witnesses reported loud explosions and bright flashes in the sky in Riyadh, apparently caused by missiles being shot down. No casualties have been reported.
Since November, Houthi militias, which Saudi Arabia says are backed by Iran, have fired multiple missiles into Saudi Arabia, all of which Saudi forces had successfully intercepted without causing any damages to lives or properties.
The Houthis launched a missile at Riyadh on Nov 4, targeting King Khalid International Airport. Royal Saudi Air Defense forces intercepted the missile and shot it down, and there was no damage.