Saudi coalition says it intercepted missile fired at Medina

Saudi coalition says it intercepted missile fired at Medina

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis on Thursday said it intercepted a ballistic missile fired by the group at the Medina region, home to one of Islam's holiest cities.

The announcement came just minutes after the kingdom's civil defence agency warned of potential danger in the area near the strategic port of Yanbu.

It was unclear if the two events were connected. 

"Air defence intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia toward the Medina region," coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said in a post on X.

The Houthis rejected any suggestion they were targeting the city, saying such accusations were a "blatant and grave falsehood".

"Our operations target only its oil facilities and military bases," the group said in a statement.