Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missiles targeting Riyadh, Jizan city: SPA

Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels targeting the capital Riyadh and the industrial city of Jizan in the south, the state-run SPA news agency said Sunday, citing a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

The attacks on Saturday did not cause any injuries despite some shrapnel from the destroyed missiles falling on residential areas in Riyadh and Jizan, Colonel Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the coalition, said, according to SPA.

Jizan, located southwest of the country close to the border with Yemen, is often the target of Houthi missile attacks. Saudi Aramco has a refinery in Jizan, which is expected to start operations this year.

Saudi Arabia often intercepts and destroys Houthi missiles targeting its cities and also its oil facilities, which were attacked last year. Gulf tankers were attacked last year in the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, including those owned by Saudi Arabia and UAE.

Saudi Arabia has been leading a coalition of countries fighting the Houthi rebels in Yemen since 2015.

The Houthis last year attacked the 1,200 km East-West pipeline linking the oil-rich east to the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, temporarily shutting down flow of oil through the facility.