Saudi Arabia said Saturday it intercepted an apparent missile or drone strike on its capital, Riyadh, amid the kingdom’s years of war against neighboring Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Social media users posted a video of what appeared to be an explosion in the sky over Riyadh. Saudi state television quoted authorities in the kingdom as acknowledging the interception.
The Houthis did not immediately recognize that they had launched a missile or a drone in the direction of Riyadh. The US Embassy in Riyadh issued a warning to Americans, calling on them to “remain alert in the event of new future attacks.”
Nicolas Economou / NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Houthis have controlled Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, since September 2014. Saudi Arabia and its allies started a war against them in March 2015 in support of Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
The war has been in a stalemate for years. Riyadh has been the target of sporadic missile attacks at the time, while the Houthis have also carried out missile and drone attacks.
Western experts, Saudi Arabia and the US say Iran has supplied weapons, including ballistic missiles, to the Houthis. Iran denies that, although devices in the weapons refer back to Tehran.