Saudi Arabia Intercepts Scud Missile from Yemen

The Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels in Yemen said Saudi Air Defenses intercepted on Monday (Feb. 8) a Scud missile fired toward Khamis Mushait city where a main airbase is located.

Saudi Forces intercepted the missile at dawn Monday as it headed toward the southwestern Saudi region of Asir. Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition said the interception happened “this morning at about three o’clock.”

“They are still targeting the cities,” he added.

Coalition forces reacted by targeting the launch platform inside Yemeni territory.

The King Khalid Air Base, which is around 100 kilometers (60 miles) away from the Yemeni border, near the city of Khamis Mushait, is at the pole position of Saudi-led air operations against Houthi militias and their allies, elite troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia has been targeted more than once with weapons and artillery fire since March when the Saudi-led coalition intervened in support of the country’s internationally recognized government. In response to such attacks, it has deployed Patriot missile batteries designed to counter tactical ballistic missiles.

Since the coalition intervention began, rocket fire from Yemen and border clashes have left about 90 civilians and soldiers dead in southern Saudi Arabia.