Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthis’ ballistic missile, armed UAVs

By Zeynep Tufekci Gulay

RIYADH (AA) - Saudi-led coalition forces supporting the Yemeni government announced Sunday that bomb-laden unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and a ballistic missile belonging to Houthi rebels were neutralized.

Iran-backed Houthis fired a ballistic missile and dispatched three UAVs to the southern region of Saudi Arabia, but were intercepted by Saudi Airforce, according to a statement issued by the coalition, said Saudi Press Agency (SPA),

The Houthis have yet to comment.

As political instability in Yemen drags on, government forces and the Houthis continue to engage in warfare.

Yemen has been beset by violence and chaos since 2014 when Houthis overran much of the country, including the capital, Sanaa. The crisis escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led coalition launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi territorial gains.

The conflict has claimed more than 233,000 lives, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

*Writing by Ali Murat Alhas