Yemenupdated 59m ago2 min read
Ansar Allah Targets Saudi Ministry of Defense in Riyadh as Coalition Intercepts Drones
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Ansar Allah says targeted Saudi Ministry of Defense in Riyadh; coalition intercepts drones and missiles. Coalition intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched toward Riyadh by Ansar Allah.
One story. Different accounts.
“destroyed four drones over Riyadh and Medina”
“footage showing the targeting gatherings and vehicles belonging to the Saudi aggression”
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Riyadh drone claims
Ansar Allah said it targeted the Saudi Ministry of Defense in Riyadh, while the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched toward Riyadh in the early hours of Friday.
Yahya Sari', the military spokesman for Ansar Allah, said the group carried out four operations with ballistic missiles and drones in the past 48 hours, targeting the Ministry of Defense building in Riyadh and the airports of Dammam and Abha.
The coalition spokesman, Lt. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, said in a statement on X that it intercepted and destroyed two unmanned aerial vehicles launched toward the southern region.
The Houthis’ humanitarian operations coordination center, HOCC, continued sending warnings to airlines about the risks associated with Saudi airports and airspace, while the armed forces affiliated with the Houthis warned all airlines using Saudi airports and airspace that those airports are 'exposed' to targeting and a 'theater' for military operations.
Coalition denies targeting
Lt. Gen. Turki al-Maliki told a briefing that the claims promoted by the Houthis about threatening the Kingdom by targeting tribal and civilian gatherings were false, unfounded, and denied in full.
al-Maliki said the claims, in their content and timing, reflected ongoing attempts to mislead public opinion and divert attention from the group’s crises and practices.
The BBC reported that Saudi authorities had not confirmed hitting the Ministry of Defense or the Yanbu facility yet, while the coalition leading the Yemen war warned against the Houthis’ claims about threatening the kingdom by targeting tribal and civilian gatherings.
The BBC also said the coalition spokesman explained that these claims reflect ongoing attempts to mislead public opinion and divert attention from 'the militia’s crises and practices'.
Airspace warnings and escalation
The Houthis’ warning to airlines continued until the 'end of the aggression and siege' on Yemen, according to the Saba News Agency, the Houthis’ agency. The warning added that the Yemeni Armed Forces affiliated with the Houthis disclaims full responsibility for any risks or consequences that may befall aircraft and crews, passengers and staff if operators do not adhere to staying away from the Saudi airports and airspace covered by the warning.
The BBC said Reuters cited two sources saying evacuation instructions for Aramco in Dhahran included the remaining staff at the headquarters, after non-essential staff had been working remotely since last week’s attack. The BBC further said the Ministry of Energy reported a drone intercepted near the Shaybah oil field near the border with the UAE, and it said the incident caused a vehicle to catch fire and killed two people, one Filipino and one Nepali, while field operations were unaffected.