Saudi Arabian authorities reported this Monday that the missile launched from Yemen and that impacted its territory was not aimed at the kingdom, but was destined for another country in the region. According to Riyadh, the projectile suffered a technical failure that caused it to deviate from its intended route and end up falling in an uninhabited area near the common border.
"Regarding the launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen and its disappearance near the border, the results of investigations and technical review have shown that the missile launch was directed towards a regional country," the Saudi Ministry of Defense stated in a statement.
The Defense Department specifies that, for "technical reasons," the missile "failed and deviated from its trajectory," which, it emphasizes, generates "inaccurate indications about the destination of the target."
Saudi authorities further emphasize that the device ended up crashing in an "uninhabited area near the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen," with no casualties or significant material damage reported.
Early this Monday, the Israeli Army claimed to have detected the launch of missiles from Yemen and Iran against its territory, on a night marked by the exchange of attacks amid escalating regional tension.
In parallel, the Houthi rebels of Yemen have celebrated the Iranian offensive against Israel and have claimed responsibility for firing several missiles at "sensitive targets" in Israel, also announcing a "total blockade" of Israeli vessel traffic in the Red Sea, which they describe as a response to Israel's operations in the Middle East region.