Riyadh, 21 October. The Saudi-led coalition intercepted and destroyed drones launched towards the kingdom — according to updated data, five drones over the regions of Medina and the Eastern Province, the coalition spokesman confirmed.
This is the third wave of attacks since Tuesday, when the coalition shot down a Houthi ballistic missile and then a drone over Riyadh. The strikes are now directed at other parts of the kingdom — Medina in the west and the Eastern Province, where oil production is concentrated; where the drones were launched from is not specified.
The Houthis are an armed movement controlling the north of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa; the Saudi-led coalition fights them on the side of the country's recognised government, and in recent days both sides have stepped up their strikes.
What it means: Attacks on Saudi Arabia are continuing and spreading: after a missile and a drone over the capital, the coalition shot down five more drones over Medina and the Eastern Province.
Who benefits: Each attack keeps Saudi residents on edge and forces the coalition to spend air defence resources; the attacks show that the Houthis can reach as far as the kingdom's capital.
Background: The Yemeni army, which fights alongside the coalition, said the day before that it had carried out 744 strikes on Houthi positions in 24 hours.
List of sources used: Anadolu, Anadolu, Anadolu
Artificial intelligence was used in preparing this material.
