Saudi military spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki has accused Yemen’s Houthi rebels of receiving advanced military support from regional parties, enabling them to acquire ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones and explosive-laden speedboats.
Speaking at a press conference in Riyadh on Thursday, Al-Maliki said the Houthis had established weapons depots in the mountainous areas of Sanaa, Saada and Amran to facilitate attacks on neighbouring countries.
He said the Saudi-led coalition was destroying the depots and had already eliminated 127 weapons and ammunition storage facilities.
Al-Maliki added that the coalition was also working to dismantle networks of drone and missile launch sites, including fixed and mobile platforms, and target weapons experts and operators associated with these capabilities.
He further claimed that the Houthis had launched at least 20 missile and drone attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh between October 1 and 15. The group also targeted Dammam and Abha International Airport, he said.
According to Al-Maliki, the attacks killed 19 people and injured 364 others.
Condemning attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, the spokesperson accused the Houthis of repeatedly targeting Saudi airports, ports and oil facilities, including an attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on October 10.
He also expressed condolences to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
-AJM