On Thursday, November ٥ (١٤ Aban), Saudi Arabia announced its success in intercepting and destroying a ballistic missile that had been fired by the Houthis towards Medina, one of the holiest cities in Islam. This announcement came just minutes after the Civil Defense Organization of Saudi Arabia issued a warning about the potential for danger near the port of Yanbu.
Details of the missile interception
Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition, announced in a message on the social media platform X that the air defense systems of this coalition successfully identified and destroyed the missile fired by Houthi militants. This comes as the Houthis have repeatedly stated that targeting the holy cities of Mecca and Medina is not part of their military plans.
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In recent months, this Iran-backed group has increased its attacks on airports, energy infrastructure, and military centers in Saudi Arabia. This situation fuels regional tensions and raises security concerns among neighboring countries.
Security warnings in Yanbu
The Civil Defense Organization of Saudi Arabia stated in a statement that due to the potential for danger, a warning has been issued to inform the public in the Yanbu region. Yanbu, located on the Red Sea coast, is known as the terminal of the East-to-West oil pipeline of Saudi Arabia and is of great importance in the country's oil exports.
As Saudi Arabia is recognized as the largest oil exporter in the world, maintaining security in this region and its infrastructure is one of the main priorities of the Saudi government. Given the ongoing tensions, the country has requested international assistance from various countries, including the United States and European nations.
Recently, the Houthis also announced that they have targeted Riyadh International Airport with their attacks; this attack coincided with the visit of Ahmad al-Shara, the President of Syria, to Saudi Arabia. Although Saudi officials have not yet confirmed the occurrence of this attack, it indicates an increase in tensions and unrest in the region.
In the meantime, reports indicate that the Houthis intend to demand $٥١ billion in compensation to stop attacks against Saudi Arabia. This request was made following Saudi contacts with the Houthis after this group took control of the city of Mokha near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Overall, the security situation in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East is significantly affected by military and political tensions, and these developments could have widespread implications on the global stage.
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