Saudi-led coalition intercepts Houthi missile fired towards Taif

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile fired towards the western Saudi city of Taif early Wednesday, as authorities issued emergency alerts in Jeddah and Yanbu.

Saudi Civil Defence later issued an all-clear for both areas without specifying the threat that had prompted the warnings.

The coalition did not report any casualties or damage from the interception.

The latest incident followed damage in Riyadh late Tuesday after Saudi air defences intercepted two Houthi ballistic missiles.

Debris struck a building, a construction project and a vehicle, according to Civil Defence, which reported no casualties.

The coalition also said on Tuesday that it had intercepted four drones and three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis towards Saudi Arabia.

The interceptions came amid escalating hostilities between the Houthi group and the Saudi-led coalition, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition against the Houthis since March 2015, following the group’s seizure of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and other parts of the country in 2014.