Houthi Missiles Intercepted Over Mecca Province as Gulf States Protest
Saudi Civil Defence says shrapnel from two intercepted ballistic missiles, suspected to have been fired by Yemen’s Houthis, fell in Jeddah, Taif and Rabigh in Mecca province. A drone and a missile were also downed over Riyadh, where international flights resumed today from Terminal 2. The Houthis deny targeting Muslim holy sites.
The Gulf Cooperation Council’s secretary-general, Jasem AlBudaiwi, called the strikes “a grave violation of the sanctity of the Holy Sites and a provocation to the sentiments of Muslims worldwide”. The coalition separately reports ten ballistic missiles intercepted over the south and a cruise missile aimed at Khamis Mushait. Every figure is one side’s claim: the Riyadh interceptions are corroborated by two outlets, the Mecca ones by only one. The Houthi military spokesman claims seven operations against Saudi oil facilities and bases. Britain committed RAF Typhoons to defensive counter-air missions over the kingdom on Tuesday, with the defence secretary, Wes Streeting, calling the Houthi attacks “absolutely despicable”.