Alwaght-Yemen’s Ansarullah movement has reportedly fired a ballistic missile towards the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in retaliation for the regime’s deadly attacks.
Al-Masirah TV quoted Ansarullah movement spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam saying the Burkan (Volcano) H-2 missile was fired towards al-Yamamah Palace, the official residence of King Salman. The Burkan missile has an estimated range of 800km.
While Saudi news outlets say the regime has intercepted the missile in southern Riyadh, Reuters said its reporters have heard a blast and seen a plume of smoke rising above the Saudi capital.
An AFP correspondent also heard a loud explosion shortly before the scheduled unveiling of the Saudi budget, which is usually announced from Yamamah Palace by the king.
The Al-Yamama Palace is the official residence and office of Saudi King Salman and is located in the western suburbs of the capital. It is also the headquarters of the Royal Court. US President Donald Trump stayed at the residence during his visit in May.
The missile unit of Yemen’s Defense Ministry also said that the missile attack targeted the meeting of Saudi officials at al-Yamamah Palace, adding that all the Saudi palaces as well as the kingdom’s military and oil facilities are completely within the range of Yemeni missiles.
It was the second Houthi missile attack against Riyadh over the past two months. The first attack targeted Riyadh international airport on November 4, but Riyadh claimed that it managed to intercept the projectile.
Contrary to the claim by the Saudi military, a report by The New York Times suggested that the ballistic missile was actually not intercepted.
The second missile attack on Riyadh came on the same day that the UN human rights office verified the killings of 136 Yemeni civilians and other non-combatants in the Saudi-led airstrikes over past two weeks.
