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Saudi forces say 10 ballistic missiles launched by Houthis intercepted
Explosions also rang through Riyadh on Sunday, as the kingdom was due to reopen the international airport there despite repeated attacks by Yemen's Houthis.
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The Saudi-led coalition said on Sunday that it had intercepted 10 ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis towards the kingdom's southern region.
"Interception and destruction of 10 ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Houthi militia towards the southern region," the coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki said in a post on X, news agency AFP reported.
Explosions were also reportedly heard in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Sunday, as the kingdom was due to reopen Riyadh international airport despite repeated attacks by Yemen's Houthis.
Earlier in the day, Saudi civil defence authorities issued emergency alerts for Riyadh, Abha and Khamis Mushait. Minutes later, the authorities announced that the danger had passed.
Two drones and a ballistic missile were also launched towards Riyadh, and a cruise missile towards the southern city of Khamis Mushait, the authorities said, Reuters reported.
Threat continues to loom over Riyadh airport
Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, which has come under Houthi attacks over the past few weeks, resumed operations at two terminals on Sunday.
However, the Houthi threat looms as its military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the airport remained a "military target" and warned all airlines, airport staffers and travellers against using it.
Late on Saturday, the airport said Terminal 1 would be designated for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights operated by national carriers starting Sunday.
The airport operations were suspended after 13 people were killed in attack claimed by the Houthis.
Escalation in Houthi-Saudi fighting in recent weeks
Houthi has also claimed attacks on key oil infrastructure and other sites in Saudi. On Saturday, Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence said it intercepted two ballistic missiles launched by Houthis toward the Mecca and Medina regions. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis, however, denied targeting the holy cities, terming Saudi's allegation as “great and huge lie.”
According to Saudi Civil Defence, the debris fell in several locations, including Jeddah, Taif and Rabigh. Some shrapnel also landed in Wadi Mughamas, outside Mecca. "Civil defence in the Mecca and Medina regions began to respond to the falling debris from the interception of two ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Houthi militia," it said in a post on X.
Later, the Iran-backed rebel group's military spokesman, Yahya Saree, refuted reports of attacking Mecca and Medina. "What the Saudi enemy is promoting about our forces targeting towards the holy areas of Mecca and Medina is a great and huge lie," Saree was quoted as saying by AFP.
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