![Royal Saudi Air Force Col. Turki al-Maliki gives a press conference at the Armed Forces Officers club in Riyadh on July 2nd, alongside showcased alleged Iranian weapons seized by Saudi forces from the Houthi militia. [Fayez Nureldine/AFP]](/cnmi_am/images/2020/09/11/26036-Saudi-Riyadh-conference-700_496.webp)
The Saudi-led coalition on Thursday (September 10th) intercepted multiple ballistic missiles and drones launched by the Iran-backed Houthis (Ansarallah) towards the kingdom, state media said.
The Houthis have stepped up attacks on neighbouring Saudi Arabia, mainly targeting southern provinces along the long border between both countries.
But on Thursday afternoon, the militia's Al-Masirah television said the Houthis attacked an "important target" in Riyadh using drones and a missile.
The coalition did not confirm an attack on Riyadh and the city's residents did not report any visible signs of an assault.
But hours later, coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said it intercepted and destroyed a "number of ballistic missiles and bomb-laden" drones launched towards the kingdom.
He did not specify the target nor report any damage or casualties.
"The terrorist Houthi militia is deliberately escalating the hostile, terrorist targeting of civilians and civilian objects using ballistic missiles and bomb-laden (unmanned aerial vehicles)," al-Maliki was quoted as saying by the official Saudi Press Agency.
The Houthis have targeted Riyadh in the past with missiles and drones, with the coalition claiming to intercept most of them.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused Iran of supplying sophisticated weapons to the Houthis, a charge Tehran denies.
