The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it had destroyed two Houthi ballistic missile launch platforms in the northwestern province of Saada, amid continuing regional concerns over missile attacks and threats to maritime security.
Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki announced the operation late Friday in a post on X, saying the launch platforms had been destroyed in Saada province. He did not provide further details about the operation or report any casualties.
The announcement came as Saudi Arabia welcomed a United Nations Security Council presidential statement condemning Houthi attacks against the kingdom and calling for international cooperation to prevent the group from acquiring weapons.
Saudi-Led Coalition Targets Houthi Missile Platforms
According to coalition spokesman al-Maliki, the operation targeted ballistic missile launch platforms in northwestern Yemen.
The coalition did not disclose the precise location of the targets, the timing of the strikes beyond the announcement, or whether the operation caused additional damage.
The reported action comes amid a prolonged conflict in Yemen that has involved the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, the internationally recognised government and a Saudi-led military coalition.
The Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and several other areas in September 2014. Saudi Arabia subsequently led a military intervention in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government.
The conflict has since contributed to widespread displacement, humanitarian needs and continuing instability across the country.
Saudi Arabia Welcomes UN Security Council Statement
Saudi Arabia welcomed a presidential statement adopted by the UN Security Council earlier in the week condemning Houthi attacks against the kingdom and calling for cooperation to prevent the group from obtaining arms and related material.
In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry highlighted the council’s condemnation of continued and escalating Houthi attacks, including those targeting airports and energy infrastructure.
The ministry also drew attention to the council’s condemnation of ongoing threats to navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, both important routes for international shipping.
“The Kingdom affirmed the importance of the statement’s provisions, including its emphasis on the importance of full implementation of Security Council resolution 2216 (2015) and subsequent resolutions, and its call for practical cooperation to prevent the terrorist Houthi group from acquiring weapons and other forms of support,” the ministry said.
The statement reflects Riyadh’s position that preventing weapons supplies to the Houthis is essential to addressing security threats facing Saudi Arabia and the wider region.
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What UN Security Council Resolution 2216 Requires
Security Council Resolution 2216, adopted in 2015, sets out several demands directed at the Houthis amid the conflict in Yemen.
The resolution calls on the group to end the use of violence, withdraw from areas it seized, including Sanaa, and surrender weapons taken from military and security institutions.
It also demands that the Houthis stop exercising the powers of Yemen’s internationally recognised government and facilitate humanitarian and medical access to civilians.
The latest Security Council statement reiterated the importance of fully implementing Resolution 2216 and subsequent resolutions, while urging practical cooperation to prevent the Houthis from acquiring arms and related material.
Riyadh Reaffirms Right to Defend Its Security
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the kingdom reaffirmed its inherent right under international law to take necessary measures to defend its security and protect its citizens and residents.
The ministry’s statement followed the Security Council’s condemnation of Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and its call for cooperation, including with Yemen’s internationally recognised government, to prevent further weapons supplies to the group.
The developments underscore continuing concerns over missile threats, attacks on infrastructure and maritime security in the region.
With the Saudi-led coalition reporting the destruction of the missile launch platforms and Riyadh welcoming the UN statement, the security situation in Yemen remains closely linked to broader efforts to limit attacks and protect vital shipping routes.
