Saudi Arabia intercepts a Houthi missile over Riyadh

And two drones were shot down by air defence forces in the south

A ballistic missile was intercepted by Saudi Arabia over Riyadh and shot down two drones in another part of the country on Wednesday, in the latest attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

In a statement, the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a drone targeting an airport in the southwestern province of Abha, which led to a temporary suspension of air traffic, and another in which was approaching a “civilian object” in Jizan province.

The Houthis, in a statement carried by a news agency under their control, said the attack on Riyadh was directed at the defence ministry.

In recent months, the rebels launched missiles aimed at Riyadh, and dozens have been fired at southern Saudi cities that border Yemen.

Meanwhile, Saudi Aramco said on Wednesday that operations were running smoothly following an alleged Houthi strike on a facility belonging to the oil giant.

“The air force announced the execution of air strikes with the Qasef-1 aircraft on Aramco in Jizan (province),” the channel said on its Twitter account, referring to a drone the Houthis unveiled last year.

Saudi Aramco operates a 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Jizan, part of a new economic city on the Red Sea.