Houthis fire two ballistic missiles at Saudi holy sites
Debris landed in Jeddah and other western cities following attacks on oil refineries and airports, according to Saudi Civil Defense.
By Fatima Davis ·
Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthis toward the Mecca and Medina regions on Saturday. The projectiles traveled before being neutralized, resulting in debris falling across several locations in the western part of the country.
Saudi Civil Defense identified specific landing zones for the fragments. Debris struck areas in Jeddah, Taif, and Rabigh. These sites are located near major economic hubs and international airports in the Hejaz region.
The missile launches followed a series of targeted strikes announced by the Houthi military leadership earlier in the day. Yahya Saree, the group's military spokesperson, confirmed attacks on multiple Saudi infrastructure sites. The targets included a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu and the Rabigh oil refinery.
Saree listed several aviation hubs as additional targets. The strikes aimed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The group also reported attacks on Najran airport and an air base in Khamis Mushait. These facilities serve as key nodes for regional commercial and military aviation.
The Houthi offensive coincided with reports of Saudi counter-strikes in Yemen. The Saba News Agency, which is linked to the Houthi movement, reported that Yemen's National Commission for Human Rights condemned the actions. The commission described a massacre in the Asr neighborhood of Sanaa. It also cited an attack on a cement factory in the Hamdan district of Sanaa Governorate.
The United States State Department issued a travel advisory update for Israel on Friday. The notice warned of an increased threat from Iran-backed Houthi terrorists. It noted the potential for a rapid escalation of regional hostilities. The department cited previous Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia that caused civilian casualties and disrupted travel.
The advisory maintained Israel's overall travel classification at Level 3. This level urges American citizens to reconsider travel due to terrorism and unrest. Existing risk indicators and restrictions on travel to certain areas of the country remained unchanged in the update.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
