Saudi coalition intercepts missile fired towards Medina

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthi movement said Thursday that its air defences intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched towards the Medina region, raising fresh security concerns in western Saudi Arabia.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki announced the interception in a statement published on X, describing the launch as an attack by the Houthi movement.

The announcement came minutes after Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense agency issued a warning of potential danger in the strategic Red Sea port city of Yanbu. Authorities did not clarify whether the two incidents were connected.

Houthis deny targeting holy city

The Houthis rejected claims that they had targeted Medina, describing the accusations as a "blatant and grave falsehood".

In a statement, the group said its operations were directed exclusively at oil facilities and military bases.

The movement has repeatedly stated that it would not target Mecca or Medina, two of Islam's holiest cities, during its campaign against Saudi Arabia.

Previous Houthi attacks have targeted Saudi airports, energy infrastructure and military installations, while the port of Yanbu has also been struck several times in recent months.

Yanbu remains strategically important

The security warning in Yanbu has drawn particular attention because of the city's importance to Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure.

Located on the Red Sea coast, Yanbu is the western terminus of the kingdom's East-West Pipeline, which allows Saudi Arabia to transport crude oil to the Red Sea and bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

The pipeline and port have become increasingly important for Saudi oil exports, particularly amid regional tensions and disruptions affecting shipping routes through the Gulf.

The latest developments highlight continuing security risks to Saudi Arabia's military and energy infrastructure as tensions with the Houthis persist.

Source:AA