According to Saudi-led coalition reports, Saudi air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemeni militia towards the Saudi city of Abha Monday morning. The missile has reportedly been intercepted "with no injuries" by a Patriot missile battery. The missile launcher was subsequently destroyed by Saudi Air Forces.
This is at least the fourth missile fired from Yemeni territory after the peace talks in Kuwait in April, with the mediation of United Nations. The fighting continued during the peace negotiations despite formal truce.
Saudi Arabia backs internationally recognized president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who was forced to leave the country by the religious militia called Al Houthi, loyal to Yemeni the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Hadi loyalists control about one half of the Yemeni territory, but it is split in two by Al-Qaeda-controlled region. Al Houthis control about a quarter of Yemeni territory, including Yemeni capital Sanaa.
The UN special envoy to Yemen, Esmail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, said on Wednesday that the warring parties were taking a two-week break from the peace talks which have made little headway.
