Cairo: Saudi air defences early Saturday intercepted a “hostile air target” fired towards the Saudi port city of Jeddah, the Saudi Defence Ministry said without details.
The attack attempt comes days after a Saudi-led military alliance announced destroying an explosive drone launched by Iran-aligned Al Houthi rebels against the kingdom.
Earlier this week, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman stressed Arabness of Al Houthis and urged them to negotiate with other Yemeni sides a peaceful solution to a devastating conflict of more than six years in Yemen where the world’s worst humanitarian disaster is dragging on.
“Undoubtedly, Al Houthis have a strong relation with the Iranian regime. But in the final analysis, Al Houthis are Yemenis and have their Arab and Yemeni leanings which I hope will grow bigger and they will take care of their country’s interests before anything else, “Prince Mohammed said in a TV interview.
Nationwide ceasefire
Last month, Saudi Arabia launched a peace initiative for Yemen, proposing a UN-overseen nationwide ceasefire in the country, the reopening of Sana’a airport in the Al Houthi-held capital, and restarting negotiations between the Saudi-backed government and the Iran-allied rebels. The Yemeni government welcomed the initiative.
In recent months, Al Houthis have stepped up their cross-the-border attacks against the Saudi territory and civilian facilities.
Al Houthis plunged Yemen into war after they toppled the internationally recognised government and seized parts of the impoverished country, including Sana’a in late 2014.
