Egyptian expat killed in missile attack on Saudi capital Riyadh

On Sunday, Saudi military forces intercepted seven Yemeni rebel missiles heading towards the capital of the kingdom, Riyadh, according to Arab News. 

In a deadly escalation on the eve of the third anniversary of the Saudi-led coalition’s intervention to restore the legitimate regime in Yemen, one Egyptian expat was killed and two of his countrymen were wounded by falling shrapnel when a missile fell on a residential neighborhood, Saudi Press Agency said.

Numerous regional media outlets have aired footage that showed Patriot missile batteries firing at the incoming Houthi missiles. Videos that were uploaded on the internet showed what appeared to be a missile fuselage lying on a street in Riyadh.

Residents have also affirmed hearing loud explosions and bright flashes in the sky shortly before midnight.

Reportedly, the Houthi rebels, which are backed by the Iranian regime, fired three missiles at Riyadh and four others at the southern cities of Khamis Mushait, Jizan, and Najran. The missiles are believed to have been purposefully fired to target and hit populated areas.

"This aggressive and hostile action by the Iran-backed Houthi group proves that the Iranian regime continues to support the armed group with military capabilities," the Saudi-led coalition's spokesman Turki Al Malki said.

Since 2017, the Houthi rebels have fired dozens of missiles into Saudi Arabian territory, all of which were intercepted by Saudi forces. 

Furthermore, last December, King Salman's official residence at Yamamah palace was also targeted.

So far, more than 10,000 people have been killed in the ongoing conflict, which began after the Houthis and their allies illegally seized Yemen's capital Sana'a in September 2014 and began expanding into the south of the country.

In addition, the UN says that living conditions in the war-torn country have reached catastrophic levels and confirmed that 8.4 million people in Yemen face imminent famine.

The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed, sent a cable to King Salman of Saudi Arabia saying that the "criminal act that was aimed at the security and safety of the kingdom and its people violated international law, values, and principles".

"Kuwait stands by Saudi Arabia and supports all of its efforts to protects itself," added Sheikh Sabah.

Bahrain also condemned the attack and said in a statement carried by the Bahrain News Agency that it "stands in the same line as its brother Saudi Arabia".

"Bahrain continues to support the kingdom’s war on terror on all levels and fully supports any steps it may take to defend itself," said the statement.

"We commend the kingdom’s air force and its ability to intercept the missiles by the Iran-backed Houthi militias, who want to spread chaos and instability in the region and prolong the Yemen crisis."