Saudi Arabia: Missile from Yemen intercepted in south Nov. 30

Event

On Thursday, November 30, a ballistic missile fired from Yemen was intercepted and destroyed in the Saudi city of Khamis Mushait (south). No casualties were reported. The missile is thought to have been launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Context

Saudi Arabia has been engaged in a complex and deadly conflict in Yemen to oppose the Houthi rebels at war with the government since 2015. The southern region of Saudi Arabia is a frequent target of Houthi attacks and cross-border incidents are common. Missiles fired from inside Yemen often land on Saudi soil or are intercepted by Saudi air defense systems. Furthermore, Houthi rebels often cross into Saudi territory to carry out attacks against Saudi soldiers. In total, since the beginning of the conflict in 2015, 79 missiles have been fired from Yemen towards Saudi Arabia, according to the Arab League. In early November, a ballistic missile was intercepted in the Riyadh area near Khalid International Airport (RUH) - the first such incident to affect the capital.

Advice

Individuals in Saudi Arabia are advised to avoid the Yemeni border area due to the risk of further attacks.