Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement fired missiles that reached the Saudi capital on Tuesday, the first attack since a coronavirus-related ceasefire expired last month, as was reported by Reuters.
Two large explosions could be heard in Riyadh near dawn, with smoke billowing into the sky. The Houthis said they had hit the Saudi defense ministry and a military base, while a Saudi-led military coalition said it had shot a missile down, not referring to targets. There was no sign of damage to the side of the defense ministry building that is visible from the main road or to any surrounding buildings. The area was quiet on Tuesday evening, with normal traffic flows and no additional security measures.
Violence between the two sides has surged after the expiry last month of the six-week ceasefire prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Saudi-led coalition, which has fought the Houthis for more than five years in a war that has pushed millions of Yemenis to the brink of famine, has typically responded to Houthi attacks with airstrikes.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a televised speech that the group fired several missiles and drones, which “pounded” military headquarters and centers in Riyadh, including the defense ministry and King Salman Air Base. Sarea said attacks were also launched against military sites in the southern Saudi cities of Najran and Jizan.
Saudi air defense equipment noticed ballistic missiles a few seconds before they were to hit the target and were intercepted. However, only two intercepted missiles have been reported and are on video. However, according to Saudi-led coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki, the coalition had also shot down three missiles headed towards Najran and Jizan and a number of drones, he said.