Yemen's Houthis (Ansarallah) have launched one of their longest-range strikes against Saudi Arabia, firing a ballistic missile that was shot down near the holy city of Mecca, the coalition fighting them said Friday (October 28th).
According to a coalition statement, the Houthis launched the missile "toward the Mecca area" on Thursday evening from their Saada province stronghold just across the border, AFP reported.
"The air defence was able to intercept and destroy it about 65 kilometres from Mecca without any damage," the statement said.
A Houthis media outlet website said the ballistic missile targeted the international airport in Jeddah.
The six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) condemned the attack, which it described as "clear evidence" that the Houthis are not willing to accept a political solution to Yemen’s conflict.
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan went further, criticising Iran for the attack. The UAE had on Thursday welcomed a proposal by the UN envoy to Yemen aimed at reviving a political process to end the conflict.
Qatar called the attack "a provocation to the feelings of millions of Muslims worldwide".
All GCC states, apart from Oman, are members of the coalition.
