New Delhi: Yemen's Houthi rebels on Tuesday claimed to have targeted Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence in the capital, Riyadh, with a ballistic missile, asserting that the strike scored a 'direct hit.' Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, in a social media post, announced the claim, saying the group’s forces had targeted the ministry in what he described as an attack on the Saudi capital.

"Our armed forces targeted the Ministry of Defence in the enemy Saudi capital, Riyadh, with a ballistic missile and the hit was direct," Saree said.

"By the grace of God, our armed forces targeted the Saudi enemy's Ministry of Defence in the capital Riyadh with a ballistic missile, and the strike was direct by the grace of God," added the spokesperson.

The claim came after Saudi Arabia announced that its forces had intercepted two missiles launched by the Houthis earlier in the day. Explosions were also reportedly heard in Riyadh, raising concerns over the latest escalation in regional tensions.

Saudi Defence Ministry is yet to react

However, the Houthis’ claim of a direct hit on the Saudi Defence Ministry had not been independently verified at the time of reporting.

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The latest development comes amid continuing tensions involving Yemen’s Houthi movement and Saudi Arabia, with missile attacks and interceptions highlighting persistent security concerns across the region.

The Houthis say a strike on a gas station killed at least 2

The Houthi-run Health Ministry blamed the Saudi-backed government forces for a strike late Monday on a gas station in Taiz. They said that two people were killed and several wounded. Ministry spokesperson Anees al-Asbahi accused government forces of targeting the gas station. The Yemeni military had said in a post on X that its forces had launched airstrikes targeting Houthi positions.

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Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV aired footage showing two body bags and the wounded receiving treatment at a hospital. The TV station also reported that the government launched airstrikes on Tuesday on the Houthi-controlled port city of Mokha and the Dhubab district near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

An eyewitness in Mokha told the AP over the phone that she heard two explosions at around 4 am, one near the port and the other farther away. She spoke on condition of anonymity fearing reprisals by the Houthis. Meanwhile, Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Brig. Gen. Turki al-Malki posted on X overnight that coalition forces had intercepted four Houthi drones targeting the kingdom's south and three ballistic missiles aimed at its eastern region. He didn't provide further details or evidence. 

(With inputs from agency)

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