Houthis Deny Attacks on Medina, Saudi Coalition Claims Missile Over Holy City
Saudi coalition claims Houthi missile over Medina, but Houthis deny responsibility. Attacks on civilian targets continue.
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Saudi Arabia’s military coalition reported intercepting a cruise missile over Medina, the second holiest city in Islam, on Thursday. The coalition released footage of Houthi missile strikes against civilian airports in Saudi Arabia, which the Houthis have not denied despite widespread condemnation.
Houthis Refuse to Discontinue Attacks
The Houthis denied responsibility for the missile over Medina, with military spokesman Yahya Saree calling the Saudi claims a ‘great and immense falsehood.’ While the Saudis did accuse the Houthis of attacking an electric power distribution station in Medina earlier this month, the Houthis called that accusation a ‘lie.’
The Houthis also denied launching a drone at Mecca, the holiest city in Islam, on September 15, an attack condemned by nearly all Muslim nations except Iran. However, they admitted responsibility for attacks on other Saudi cities, including more missile strikes against civilian airports and oil facilities.
Warning of More Attacks
Saree warned that Saudi airspace is now unsafe for all airlines and promised more attacks against oil facilities and airports ‘deep inside Saudi Arabia.’ The Houthis also attacked territory controlled by the internationally recognized government of Yemen, including the presidential palace in Aden, where several security personnel were killed and wounded.
The Yemeni government acknowledged the Houthi attack and reaffirmed that Aden would remain the hub for state operations. Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said the Houthis launched a ‘terrorist’ attack with at least five ballistic missiles, while the Houthis claimed they were targeting a military base and ammunitions depot used by Saudi troops.
International Response and Continued Threats
The Saudi coalition released footage of over 20 drone and missile attacks at King Khalid Airport in Riyadh between October 1 and 11. The French government advised its citizens against using King Khalid International Airport or two other major Saudi airports in Jeddah and Dammam due to Houthi attacks.
Saree also claimed the Houthis destroyed a Saudi Typhoon fighter with a surface-to-air missile, and the Saudis conducted 42 air and missile strikes in Yemen on Wednesday, targeting civilian sites in Sanaa and other cities.
Source: Breitbart
