On Thursday, November 5 (Aban 14), 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 possibility of 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 coalition's air defense systems successfully identified and destroyed the missile launched by Houthi militants. This comes despite the Houthis repeatedly stating that targeting the holy cities of Mecca and Medina is not part of their military plans.
Read more: Donald Trump's wealth decreases by $168 million
In recent months, this Iran-backed group has increased its attacks on airports, energy infrastructure, and military centers in Saudi Arabia. This situation exacerbates 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 a warning was issued to alert the public in the Yanbu province due to the potential for danger. Yanbu, located on the Red Sea coast, is recognized as the terminal of the East-to-West oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia and holds significant importance in the country's oil exports.
As Saudi Arabia is recognized as the world's largest oil exporter, maintaining security in this region and its infrastructure is a top priority for 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 targeted Riyadh International Airport; this attack coincided with the visit of Bashar Al-Assad, the President of Syria, to Saudi Arabia. Although Saudi officials have yet to confirm the occurrence of this attack, it indicates an increase in tensions and unrest in the region.
In the meantime, reports suggest that the Houthis intend to demand $51 billion in compensation to cease attacks against Saudi Arabia. This request came after communications between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis following the group's takeover of the city of Mokha near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
Overall, the security situation in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East is significantly influenced by military and political tensions, and these developments could have widespread implications on the global stage.
Read more: Russia sells 90 guided missile launchers to Iran · Enayati: Regional powers play a role in shaping a new security order
