Saudi Arabia said Saturday it had intercepted an apparent missile or drone attack on its capital, Riyadh, amid the kingdom’s war against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Social media users posted a video of what looked like an air blast over Riyadh. Saudi state television cited authorities in the kingdom who acknowledged the interception.
The Houthis did not immediately recognize the launch of a missile or drone into Riyadh. The U.S. embassy in Riyadh sent a warning to Americans to ask them to “be alert in the event of further future attacks.”
Nicolas Economou / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Houthis have occupied the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, since September 2014. Saudi Arabia and its allies began a war against them in March 2015 in support of Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
The war has been wrapped in a tobacconist for years. Riyadh has since been attacked by sporadic missile attacks, while houthis have also launched missile and drone attacks.
Western experts, Saudi Arabia and the United States say Iran has supplied weapons, including ballistic missiles to the Houthis. Iran denies it, even though the weapons devices go back to Tehran.