Teh One Who Knocks
01-26-2021, 12:16 PM
By RACHEL RUSSELL - The Express
https://i.imgur.com/gCZbaMi.png
A HUGE MISSILE has exploded above Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, just days after another attempted air attack at the weekend, according to reports.
Video footage on social media showed a thick plume of smoke in the sky, which is believed to show the aftermath of the explosion. Witnesses reported there being a loud explosion, while some felt their homes shake. The missile was said to be intercepted at 12.52pm local time today.
Mohammed Khalid Alyahya, editor in chief at Al Arabiya English, tweeted: "Breaking: Loud explosion heard in Riyadh less than a minute ago.
"A friend in Riyadh who I am on the phone with said his house in the Diplomatic Quarter shook.
He added: "It seems a missile was intercepted at 12.52pm Riyadh time according to social media posts and timestamped videos."
It comes after the E3 group of European powers, France, the UK and Germany, said in a joint statement yesterday that they condemned an attack at the weekend on Riyadh.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting against Yemen's Houthi movement said on January 23 that it had stopped an attack by the Houthis towards the Saudi capital Riyadh, the kingdom's state-owned broadcaster Al-Hadath TV reported on its Twitter page.
An official statement from all three governments said: "The E3 – France, Germany and the UK – strongly condemn the attempted aerial attacks on Riyadh on 23 January 2021.
"Proliferation and the use of missiles and drones undermine the security and stability of the region, to which we are strongly committed.
"We reiterate our firm attachment to the security and integrity of Saudi territory."
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab added the attempted attacks were "deeply concerning".
He said on Twitter: “Yesterday’s attempted aerial attacks on Riyadh, which threatened loss of life, are deeply concerning.
"We strongly condemn these attacks, and we stand by our Saudi partners.”
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia said it had “intercepted and destroyed a hostile air target going towards Riyadh”.
https://i.imgur.com/aGJ2BvD.png
A loud explosion was also heard over the central part of the city and white smoke was seen in the sky, similar to the explosion today, according to reports.
Since 2015 the Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
This has launched cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities.
It has not been confirmed who carried out the attack.
The US State Department said on Sunday: “We are gathering more information, but it appears to have been an attempt to target civilians,” .
“Such attacks contravene international law and undermine all efforts to promote peace and stability.
"As we work to de-escalate tensions in the region through principled diplomacy, including by bringing an end to the war in Yemen, we will also help our partner Saudi Arabia defend against attacks on its territory and hold those who attempt to undermine stability to account."
The kingdom has intercepted several missiles and armed drones launched by Yemen’s Houthis over the past few months.
Back in November, a fuel tank at a petroleum products distribution station in Jeddah erupted into flames after an explosion that was caused by a projectile attack.
Last week, three people were injured in Saudi’s Jazan province after a missile that was launched by Houthi militia hit one of the border villages in Al-Arda.
https://i.imgur.com/gCZbaMi.png
A HUGE MISSILE has exploded above Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, just days after another attempted air attack at the weekend, according to reports.
Video footage on social media showed a thick plume of smoke in the sky, which is believed to show the aftermath of the explosion. Witnesses reported there being a loud explosion, while some felt their homes shake. The missile was said to be intercepted at 12.52pm local time today.
Mohammed Khalid Alyahya, editor in chief at Al Arabiya English, tweeted: "Breaking: Loud explosion heard in Riyadh less than a minute ago.
"A friend in Riyadh who I am on the phone with said his house in the Diplomatic Quarter shook.
He added: "It seems a missile was intercepted at 12.52pm Riyadh time according to social media posts and timestamped videos."
It comes after the E3 group of European powers, France, the UK and Germany, said in a joint statement yesterday that they condemned an attack at the weekend on Riyadh.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting against Yemen's Houthi movement said on January 23 that it had stopped an attack by the Houthis towards the Saudi capital Riyadh, the kingdom's state-owned broadcaster Al-Hadath TV reported on its Twitter page.
An official statement from all three governments said: "The E3 – France, Germany and the UK – strongly condemn the attempted aerial attacks on Riyadh on 23 January 2021.
"Proliferation and the use of missiles and drones undermine the security and stability of the region, to which we are strongly committed.
"We reiterate our firm attachment to the security and integrity of Saudi territory."
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab added the attempted attacks were "deeply concerning".
He said on Twitter: “Yesterday’s attempted aerial attacks on Riyadh, which threatened loss of life, are deeply concerning.
"We strongly condemn these attacks, and we stand by our Saudi partners.”
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia said it had “intercepted and destroyed a hostile air target going towards Riyadh”.
https://i.imgur.com/aGJ2BvD.png
A loud explosion was also heard over the central part of the city and white smoke was seen in the sky, similar to the explosion today, according to reports.
Since 2015 the Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
This has launched cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities.
It has not been confirmed who carried out the attack.
The US State Department said on Sunday: “We are gathering more information, but it appears to have been an attempt to target civilians,” .
“Such attacks contravene international law and undermine all efforts to promote peace and stability.
"As we work to de-escalate tensions in the region through principled diplomacy, including by bringing an end to the war in Yemen, we will also help our partner Saudi Arabia defend against attacks on its territory and hold those who attempt to undermine stability to account."
The kingdom has intercepted several missiles and armed drones launched by Yemen’s Houthis over the past few months.
Back in November, a fuel tank at a petroleum products distribution station in Jeddah erupted into flames after an explosion that was caused by a projectile attack.
Last week, three people were injured in Saudi’s Jazan province after a missile that was launched by Houthi militia hit one of the border villages in Al-Arda.