Yemen Conflict Update: June 16-September 16


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Between June 16-September 16, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) reported 17 Houthi missile attacks on its territory and within Yemen. CSIS data now includes 177 publicly reported intercepts. Below is a summary of recent missile and drone activity. 

September 10

KSA air defenses intercept several ballistic missiles and bomb-laden UAVs targeting Saudi Arabia. The official Saudi statement did not indicate the Houthi target; the Houthis say they successfully struck an “important target” in Riyadh. Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarea said fighters launched a Zulfiqar ballistic missile and three Samad-3 UAVs. Saudi Arabia appears to have responded on September 13, launching 11 airstrikes on Houthi positions around Sana’a. 

Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Interception, destruction of a number of ballistic missiles and bomb-laden UAVs launched by terrorist, Iran-backed Houthi militia toward the Kingdom to target civilians and civilia, Saudi Press Agency 
Yemen’s Houthis say ‘important target’ struck in Saudi capital, Al Jazeera 

August 27

KSA air defenses intercept a ballistic missile targeting Najran. 

Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Interception, Destruction of A Ballistic Missile Launched Towards the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency 

August 22

KSA air defenses intercept a ballistic missile targeting Jizan. The Saudi statement also notes successful interception of a bomb-laden UAV. 

Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Joint Coalition Forces Intercept, Destroy Bomb-Laden (UAV), (1) Ballistic Missile Launched by Terrorist, Iran-Backed Houthi Militia Towards Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency 

August 20

KSA air defenses intercept a ballistic missile targeting Najran. The Saudi statement also notes successful interception of a bomb-laden UAV. 

The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Interception, Destruction of A Bomb-Laden (UAV), And (1) Ballistic Missile Launched by the Terrorist, Iran-Backed Houthi Militia Toward the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency 

August 17

A Houthi missile struck a military base in Marib, Yemen, killing two and injuring four Yemeni government soldiers. It is unclear if the weapon used was a ballistic missile or smaller rocket. 

11 Yemen soldiers killed in clashes and rebel attack, Al Jazeera 

August 16

KSA air defenses intercept a ballistic missile targeting southern Saudi Arabia. The official Saudi statement does not list a specific target. 

The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Interception, Destruction of Ballistic Missiles Targeting the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency 

August 13

KSA air defenses intercept two ballistic missiles targeting Khamis Mushait in southern Saudi Arabia. The Saudi statement also notes successful interception of two bomb-laden UAV also targeting the city. 

Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Joint Coalition Forces Intercept, Destroy (1) Bomb-Laden UAV, (2) Ballistic Missiles Launched by Iran-Backed Terrorist Houthi Militia Toward the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency 

August 6

KSA air defenses intercept a bomb-laden UAV targeting Saudi territory. The weapon was reportedly launched from Yemen’s Hodeida governorate. 

The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Joint Coalition Forces Intercept, shoot down bomb-laden UAV launched by terrorist, Iran-backed Houthi militia from (Hodeida) governorate, Saudi Press Agency 

July 14

A Houthi-launched ballistic missile struck the Yemeni city of Marib. The official Saudi statement did not say if there were casualties. 

The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Terrorist Houthi Militia Launches Ballistic Missile Targeting Civilians in (Ma’rib) Governorate, Saudi Press Agency 
Coalition: Houthi ballistic missile hits residential area in Yemen, Arab News 

July 12

KSA air defenses reportedly intercept two ballistic missiles and six bomb-laden drones targeting Khamis Mushait, Abha, Najran, and Jizan. An earlier Saudi statement appears to have claimed intercepting four missiles. While KSA did not disclose targeted sites, Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarea claimed that Houthi missiles and drones targeted “military aircraft, pilot accommodation and Patriot systems in Khamis Mushait, and other military targets at Abha, Jizan and Najran airports,” as well as an oil facility in Jizan. 

The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Joint Coalition Forces Intercept, Destroy (2) Ballistic Missiles, (6) Bomb-Laden UAVs Launched by the Terrorist, Iran-Backed Houthi Militia Toward the Kingdom Targeting Civilians and Civilian Objects., Saudi Press Agency 
Yemeni Houthis say they hit Saudi oil facility in drone, missile attack, Reuters 
Yemen’s Houthis say Saudi oil facility hit in overnight attack, Al Jazeera

July 8

A Houthi missile struck Marib city, injuring at least two civilians.  

Houthis launch missile targeting Yemeni city of Marib, lands among civilian area, Al Arabiya 
Houthi ballistic missile injures civilian in Yemen’s Marib, Arab News 

July 3

The Arab Coalition intercepts four bomb-laden UAVs launched by Houthi forces. Three of the four UAVs were destroyed in Yemeni airspace. 

The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Joint Coalition Forces Intercept and Destroy (4) Bomb-Laden UAVs Launched by the Terrorist, Iran-Backed Hourhi Militia Toward the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency 

June 23

KSA air defenses intercept four ballistic missiles targeting Riyadh, Najran and Jizan. The missiles were all fired from Sa’dah governorate, with two targeting Najran, one targeting Jizan, and subsequently one targeting Riyadh. The Saudi statement also notes successful interception of eight bomb-laden drones. The Houthis say weapons involved in the attack included the Zulfiqar ballistic missile, Quds cruise missile, and Samad-3 UAV. 

The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Interception and Destruction A Ballistic Missile Launched by the Terrorist, Iran-Backed Houthi Militia from (Sana’a) Toward the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency 
Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Interception and Destruction of (8) Bomb-Laden UAVs, (3) Ballistic Missiles Launched by the Terrorist, Iran-Backed Houthi Militia to Target Civilians in the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency 
Yemen’s Houthis fire missiles, drones towards Saudi Arabia, Al Jazeera 
Houthis claim cruise missile attack on Saudi Arabia, Janes

June 16

KSA air defenses intercept a ballistic missile targeting Najran. The missile was launched from Yemen’s Sa’dah governorate. 

The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Interception and Destruction of a Ballistic Missile Launched by the Terrorist Iran-Backed Houthi Militia Toward the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency
Saudi-led coalition in Yemen intercepts ballistic missile blamed on Houthis, Al Monitor