The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthi movement says it has intercepted six ballistic missiles allegedly fired by the Iran-allied group toward cities in Saudi Arabia.
The missiles were destroyed on Thursday while heading toward the Saudi cities of Taif and the strategically important port of Yanbu, according to Major General Turki al-Malki, spokesman for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen. Saudi air defences intercepted the missiles before they could reach their targets, al-Malki told the Saudi Press Agency.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility from the Houthis or any other group.
Separately, according to sources, an air defence system operated by Greek military personnel in Saudi Arabia intercepted a ballistic missile and a drone on Thursday in the wider Yanbu region, home to major oil refining facilities. "Both were shot down," a Greek security source said, adding that the Greek Patriot system launched two missiles but did not provide details on the origin of the drone or the ballistic missile. A second source confirmed the information.
Yanbu port is considered strategically vital to Saudi crude exports when shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted.
Earlier on Thursday, Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Civil Defence issued alerts warning of potential danger in the holy city of Mecca, the northwestern area of Tabuk, the Red Sea areas of Jeddah and Yanbu, and the southern area of Taif. Authorities later said the threat had passed and the cities were out of danger.
Last week, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a drone launched by the Houthis toward Mecca, an accusation the group strongly denied. Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi called the Saudi claims "a heinous lie." It was the first time in nearly ten years that a security alert had been activated in Mecca, home to the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site.
The Houthis have largely directed their attacks at southern areas of Saudi Arabia. They stepped up strikes on the kingdom after declaring a naval blockade in July. The group also seized the whole of Yemen's western coast in a rapid offensive nearly two weeks ago, bringing them to the shores of the strategically significant Bab al-Mandeb waterway on the Red Sea.
On the ground in Yemen, forces loyal to the Saudi-backed internationally recognised government said on Thursday they repelled Houthi attacks along several fronts in the southwestern Taiz governorate. Colonel Majid al-Nuzaili, spokesman for the Yemeni government forces, said the Houthis launched coordinated attacks on Wednesday night in an attempt to reach positions on a key road connecting the Aden, Lahj, and Taiz governorates.
