Saudi intercepts Houthi missile targeting oil facility

By Ahmed al-Masri

RIYADH (AA) - Saudi air defense on Tuesday intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Houthis in Yemen, state television reported.

According to a report by Al-Ekhbariya, the missile was destroyed across the eastern city of Khamis Mushayt.

Pro-Houthi Al-Masira TV stated the target of the attack was Aramco oil facility in the Kingdom’s Asir region.

A Bedr-1 type ballistic missile was used in the attack.

Impoverished Yemen has been wracked by conflict since 2014, when the Houthis overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.

The conflict escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia and its Sunni Arab allies launched a wide-ranging military campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains in Yemen and shoring up the country’s Saudi-backed government.

Riyadh has repeatedly accused the Houthis of acting as a proxy force for Shia Iran, Saudi Arabia’s arch-foe in the region.