RIYADH: Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces intercepted four ballistic missiles launched by Houthi insurgents in Yemen toward the Saudi cities of Khamis Mushayt and Abha early Tuesday, the Saudi-led Arab Coalition said.
In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the Coalition command said the missiles were shot down and destroyed at 6:30 a.m. without causing any damage.
A short video shared on social media showed Saudi Patriot missiles intercepting the Houthi missiles.
VIDEO: Houthi missiles intercepted over Asir region
As a further counter-measure, Coalition air forces immediately targeted the launching sites in Yemen, the statement said.
It said the continued targeting by Houthi insurgents of Saudi cities with ballistic missiles “is the largest evidence of continuing smuggling of weapons to Yemen by all ways and means, especially from the port of Hodeidah.”
Coalition forces and the US Navy have separately intercepted Iranian weapons being sent to Houthis in the past two years.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused Iran of fomenting unrest in the Middle East.