SRINAGAR: Thirteen civilians were injured in ballistic missile and drone attacks on three Saudi cities on Monday, according to Saudi-led coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki, with media reports carrying the account early Tuesday.
Al-Malki said the attacks, which he attributed to Yemen’s Houthi group, struck Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif. The civilians sustained minor to moderate injuries, while seven homes and two vehicles were damaged, he said.
The coalition spokesman accused the Houthis of deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. He said the coalition would take measures under its right to self-defence to deter further attacks.
Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defense issued “potential danger” alerts early Tuesday for six cities — Jeddah, Yanbu, Taif, Abha, Jazan and Alula. The agency later said the danger had passed.
“For your safety, continue following #CivilDefense instructions and avoid gathering and filming. In case of emergency, call (911),” the agency said.
The coalition’s statement came after Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Monday that Saudi warplanes had carried out 54 strikes across five Yemeni provinces in the preceding 24 hours.
Saree said F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets had been used in the strikes and warned that they “would not go unanswered”.
Earlier on Monday, the Houthis claimed they had launched a large-scale missile and drone attack against King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait and threatened to expand their operations against Saudi Arabia.
Fighting between forces of Yemen’s internationally recognised government and the Houthis has intensified since early July, following several years of relative calm.
Yemen’s conflict escalated in 2014 after the Houthis seized Sanaa and several provinces. A Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government.
