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Ballistic Missile Fired by Yemen Rebels Intercepted over Riyadh: Report

Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim to have fired a Burkan-2 missile targeting a royal palace in Saudi Arabia, according to the BBC. The missile was however shot down by the Saudi-led coalition forces, the state media said.

Witnesses said hearing an explosion in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Some users have also posted videos on social media showing a plume of smoke rising above the capital. The loud boom shook the windows of some houses.

According to rebels, the missile was fired at Saudi Arabia’s Yamama Palace, where a meeting of some royal leaders was being held.  There were no immediate reports of injuries. State TV reported no damage to buildings or infrastructure.

A Houthi rebel spokesman confirmed the missile launch on Twitter.

Last month, a similar missile came close to hitting Riyadh’s airport. Earlier this month, Yemen’s former President Ali Abdullah Saleh was killed by the Houthi rebels. Since then, the Saudi-led coalition forces have intensified aerial bombardment of Yemen.