Houthi ballistic missile 'intercepted over Riyadh'

Riyadh, Dec 19: The Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen’s Houthi rebels said it intercepted a ballistic missile near Riyadh on Tuesday, Saudi state media reported.

Witnesses in the Saudi capital posted pictures on social media showing a cloud of smoke in the air, and there were no reports of any damage, the BBC reported.

The Houthi movement’s al-Masirah TV said rebel fighters had fired a Burkan-2 missile at the al-Yamama Palace. Last month, a similar missile came close to hitting Riyadh’s airport. Saudi Arabia and the US have accused Iran of supplying the Houthis with the missile. However, Iran has denied arming the Houthi movement, which has been fighting a war against Yemen’s government and the Saudi-led coalition since 2015. (IANS)