Saudi Air Defence has intercepted and destroyed several ballistic missiles launched from Yemen's capital of Sanaa towards its territory, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday citing the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, Col. Turki Al-Maliki. It added that the attacks were carried out by the Houthi rebels and targeted "cities and civilians".
Madinat Yanbu' as Sina'iyah#Yanbu
— Aleph 🕯️ א (@no_itsmyturn) February 20, 2020
Initial reports indicate that #RSADF 🇸🇦 has intercepted 3 missiles. pic.twitter.com/ALMrxwv5ZF
As Maleki confirms, missiles were launched from Sana'a towards Yanbu, they're 700 miles (1100km) away from each other,
— علي العراقي (@AliAlIRAQ1990) February 21, 2020
So, MRBMs for sure. pic.twitter.com/gfl6yp54vY
The missiles were reportedly thwarted by the Patriot PAC-3 air defence system. Al-Maliki has condemned the launches as "barbaric".
#ينبع pic.twitter.com/PPmVAzTksH
— حنايا الأمس (@BeeroBero) February 20, 2020
Yemen has been engulfed in an ongoing armed conflict between pro-Saudi forces led by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and the Houthis since 2015.
In March the same year, the Saudi-led coalition of mostly Gulf state allies began a military operation against the Houthis at Hadi's request to restore him to power. With the help of the coalition, Hadi managed to recapture the Yemeni south and its capital in the city of Aden from the Houthis, but the country's north, including the capital of Sanaa, remains under the Houthis' control.
