Fire at Saudi Arabia university after attack by Houthi militia

Riyadh: Debris from missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi militia into Saudi Arabia broke out fire at a university in southern Saudi Arabia on Thursday. There are no casualties.

According to a statement by a Saudi-led military coalition, Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed four bomb-laden drones and five ballistic missiles between Wednesday evening and early Thursday launched by the Houthis towards the southern Saudi city of Jazan.

"The interception resulted in scattered debris on campus, which caused a limited fire that was contained," said coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki as reported by dpa news agency

A Houthi military spokesman claimed that the group had launched 17 drones and missiles at various targets against Saudi Arabia, including an oil facility for Aramco facilities.

The attack on Aramco "caused a huge fire", the Houthis said.

However, Saudi Arabia has refrained from commenting on the attack on an Aramco facility which happened in 2019, when two of the company's facilities were hit, temporarily disrupting crude oil production.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attacks although Saudi Arabia and the US blamed Iran, which denied involvement.

Saudi Arabia has formed a coalition in March 2015 to support the internationally recognized government of Yemen against the Houthis, who control the capital Sanaa and other areas.

The Iran-linked Houthis have in recent months intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia.

(With IANS inputs)