The Houthi rebels in Yemen this evening (Sunday) launched a major offensive on cities and oil facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia using unmanned aircraft and ballistic missiles made in Iran.
The Houthis said they had launched no less than 14 unmanned aerial vehicles and eight ballistic missiles into Saudi territory. The Shiite rebels, who hold the capital Sanaa and are backed by Iran, have announced that they have hit the oil distilleries in Ras Tenora near the eastern city of Damam.
The Saudis immediately announced that they had intercepted at least ten Iranian UAV drones, the Samad 3 model, and the country’s media published pictures of some of the intercepted aircraft. It is unclear at this stage whether any targets in Saudi Arabia were hit, Time intercepts Saudis.
Earlier, Saudi planes attacked several sites in the Yemeni capital Sanaa and killed several people. The Saudis announced that they had attacked Houthi vehicles as well as a battery of Cobb anti-aircraft missiles.
The exchange of blows comes amid fierce fighting around the northeastern city of Marib, where Houthi rebels are trying to displace the Yemeni-backed Yemeni government forces.