Saudi air defenses have intercepted ballistic missiles launched by Houthi militias targeting the Kingdom's southern region, according to the official spokesperson for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen.
Brigadier General Turki Al-Malki stated that the Royal Saudi Air Force engaged and neutralized a missile threat directed at the southern part of the Kingdom. While details regarding the number of missiles or the specific outcomes of the interception were not disclosed, Al-Malki confirmed that forces acted in accordance with established military protocols.
This incident follows closely on the heels of a separate event at Sana'a Airport. An Iranian aircraft reportedly carrying a delegation of Houthi representatives, who had attended the funeral ceremony for Ali Khamenei, attempted to land at the airport. However, Yemeni armed forces targeted the runway, preventing the aircraft's landing and forcing it to divert to Al Hudaydah Airport.
The Yemeni government asserted that the targeting of Sana'a Airport's runway was a measure to protect national sovereignty and prevent the imposition of a fait accompli concerning Yemeni airspace and airports. The government considers the use of the airport for such flights a violation of established sovereign procedures.
Following these developments, local media sources reported that Houthi militias launched a series of ballistic missiles and drones from locations in the Sa'dah Governorate towards Saudi territory. Observers have interpreted this action as a new military escalation in response to the prevention of the Iranian aircraft's landing.
These events underscore the persistent military tensions in the region, marked by an increase in cross-border attacks and the ongoing confrontation between Houthi militias and government forces, with significant security implications for Yemen and its neighboring countries.
