Saudis Down Yemen Rebel Missile Before It Strikes Palace
- Loud bang heard in Riyadh, plumes of smoke could be seen
- Missile is the second fired at the Saudi capital in weeks
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Saudi Arabia said its air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemen rebels at the royal palace in the capital, Riyadh, an attack that threatens to edge the kingdom and its chief nemesis, Iran, closer to confrontation.
The Iranian-backed Houthi militants said they had targeted a meeting of top Saudi officials at the al-Yamamah palace, the official residence of King Salman and headquarters of the royal court. Saudi Arabia is leading a military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen, and shortly after the missile launch, alliance aircraft struck Houthi positions south of the Yemeni capital, Sana’a.