A Saudi woman and a Pakistani resident were injured after Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone over Taif, authorities said.
WEB DESK: A Yemeni resident was killed and two people, including a Pakistani national, were injured after debris from a drone fell in Taif Governorate in western Saudi Arabia on Thursday, September 17, Saudi authorities said.
The Saudi Civil Defense said the drone had been intercepted and destroyed before debris fell over parts of Taif. The incident also caused material damage to several buildings and vehicles.
Yemeni Resident Killed, Pakistani National Critically Injured
According to Saudi Civil Defense, the person killed was a resident of Yemeni nationality.
A Saudi woman and a Pakistani resident were also injured. Authorities said the Pakistani national was in critical condition.
Emergency teams responded to the falling debris, while authorities said established procedures were implemented following the incident.
Saudi Authorities Attribute Drone to Houthis
Saudi authorities said the drone was launched by Yemen’s Houthi group and was intercepted and destroyed by Saudi air defenses.
The falling debris subsequently struck areas in Taif, causing damage to a number of buildings and vehicles, according to the Civil Defense statement.
The attribution of the launch to the Houthis is based on the statement from Saudi authorities and should be presented as such.
Incident Comes Amid Regional Escalation
The Taif incident comes amid renewed tensions involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi forces.
Saudi authorities said earlier this week that their air defenses had intercepted a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it entered restricted airspace around the holy city. The Houthis denied targeting Makkah and said their operations were directed at Saudi military and energy sites.
The latest incident adds to a series of drone and missile-related developments in the region as fighting involving Houthi forces and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces has intensified.
For the Taif incident, Saudi authorities have confirmed one death, two injuries and material damage to buildings and vehicles.
