Yemen’s Houthis fire missile at Riyadh: Reports

By Ahmed al-Masri and Mohamed al-Samei

SANAA (AA) - Yemen’s Shia Houthi rebel group on Tuesday announced it had fired a “ballistic missile” at Saudi capital Riyadh, according to the Houthi-run Al-Masira television channel.

The missile reportedly targeted Riyadh’s Yamama Royal Palace, which houses the office of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

The broadcaster did not provide any additional details.

Saudi Arabia’s official Al-Ekhbariya television channel, for its part, likewise reported that a “ballistic missile” had been intercepted south of Riyadh.

It did not, however, provide any more details regarding the missile’s intended target or the damaged inflicted.

If verified, it would be the second missile to be fired at Riyadh from Yemen within the last two months.

On Nov. 4, a Saudi-led international coalition announced it had successfully intercepted a Houthi missile fired at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport.

Houthi spokesmen, however, had said at the time that the missile had “hit its target”.

Following last month’s attack, Saudi Arabia accused Iran of having provided the Houthis with the missiles -- an act it described as a “declaration of war”.

Tehran, for its part, has denied the allegations.