Saudi-Led Coalition Says 4 Houthi Missiles Targeting Critical Infrastructure Hit Kingdom

Saudi-Led Coalition Says 4 Houthi Missiles Targeting Critical Infrastructure Hit Kingdom
Saudi border guards stand guard in the closed al-Tuwal border crossing with Yemen in the southern Jizan province on Oct. 3, 2017. (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)
Reuters
3/19/2022
Updated:
3/20/2022

CAIRO—The Saudi-led coalition said early on Sunday that the Iran-aligned Houthi group launched four attacks on the kingdom that damaged civilian cars and homes but caused no casualties, state media reported.

In a statement, the coalition added the latest escalation included ballistic missiles, drones, and cruise missiles. It also said it is detecting and monitoring drones in the sky and intercepted a ballistic missile that aimed at targeting civilians in Jizan.

Saudi state news agency (SPA) said one attack targeted a water desalination plant in the city of Al-Shaqeeq, an Aramco facility in Jizan, a power station in the southern Dhahran al Janub city, and a gas facility in Khamis Mushait.

Yemen’s coalition government, who the Houthi rebels have been fighting to overthrow since 2015, said the latest Houthi escalation by targeting economic and civil facilities was a response to a Gulf call for talks.

The Saudi-based Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) plans to invite Yemeni parties, including the Houthis, for consultations in Riyadh this month, two Gulf officials told Reuters on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the Houthis said they would welcome talks with the Saudi-led coalition if the venue is a neutral country, including some Gulf states, and that the priority is lifting “arbitrary” restrictions on Yemeni ports and Sanaa airport.

State media posted images and videos of the damage caused by the attacks.

There was no immediate comment from Houthi leaders.