Saudi Arabia intercepts Scud missile fired from Yemen

Saudi Arabia has shot down 11 Scud missiles fired by Al Houthi rebels from across the Yemen border after fighting intensified since the collapse of a US-backed ceasefire last week.

Saudi Arabia has deployed Patriot missile batteries to counter tactical ballistic missiles that have been fired sporadically from Yemen during the course of the war, Gulfnews reported Friday.

Al Houthis have also fired Katyusha rockets, which are harder to detect, particularly into the Saudi border city of Najran. More than 100 civilians and soldiers have died in rocket attacks and skirmishes along the frontier, the news portal stated.

Last month, the Yemeni rebels launched one of their longest-range strikes against Saudi Arabia, firing a ballistic missile that was shot down near Makkah.

The rebels confirmed the launch of a Burkan-1 ballistic missile into Saudi Arabia in a statement on their official news agency, but said it had been aimed at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, the kingdom’s busiest airport where most foreign pilgrims to Makkah arrive.

Gulf states participating in the coalition to restore the internationally recognised Yemeni government of Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi slammed the missile attack, describing it as a new low for the group.

In Yemen, the fighting since March last year has killed more than 6,600 people, most of them civilians, and displaced at least three million others, according to the United Nations.