Saudi Arabia intercepts missile targeting main airport
Saudi Arabia said its forces intercepted Saturday evening a ballistic missile fired from Yemen toward one of the kingdom's major international airports on the outskirts of the capital, Riyadh.
The missile was fired from across Saudi Arabia's southern border by Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are at war with the kingdom.
Several Houthi-owned media outlets, including Al-Masira and SABA, reported the rebels had launched the missile.
Saudi Arabia arrests: Anti-corruption drive 'just the start'
The arrest of dozens of Saudi royal figures, ministers and businessmen is just the start of an anti-corruption drive, the attorney general says.
Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb issued a statement describing the detentions as "merely the start of a vital process to root out corruption wherever it exists".
News of a major purge of Saudi Arabia's business and political leadership emerged on Sunday.
It is seen as bolstering the power of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
An anti-corruption body led by the crown prince, 32, ordered the detentions of 11 princes, four ministers and dozens of ex-ministers.
Internationally known billionaire businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was reported to be among those held.
US President Donald Trump backed the move by the Saudi authorities.
"I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing," he tweeted.
Saudi Arabia calls missile launch 'act of war' by Iran, vows retaliation
Saudi Arabia on Monday called the attempted missile attack on Riyadh’s main airport this weekend an "act of war" by Iran and vowed to retaliate.
Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been fighting Saudi-backed forces there for several years, claimed responsibility for firing the ballistic missile on Saturday.
The missile traveled more than 500 miles before Saudi Arabia intercepted it.
The official Saudi Press Agency charged that debris from the missile proved that it was made in Iran and smuggled into Yemen.
American officials have previously charged that Iran has armed the Houthi rebels.
The attempted missile strike was "a blatant act of military aggression by the Iranian regime and could rise to be considered as an act of war," the Saudi Press Agency said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia “reserves its right to respond to Iran in the appropriate time and manner, in accordance with international law and based on the right of self-defense," the statement continued.
Speaking to CNN, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir unambiguously charged that Iran had effectively declared war.
"We see this as an act of war," he said. "Iran cannot lob missiles at Saudi cities and towns and expect us not to take steps."
No comments:
Post a Comment