The missile the Saudis intercepted (or didn’t) reportedly came from Yemen Houthi rebels who are supported by Iran.
Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed a “ballistic missile” north-east of the capital, Riyadh, on Saturday after it was launched from Yemen, Saudi state media reported. “Saudi air defence intercepts ballistic missile northeast of Riyadh,” it said.
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Saudi Arabia’s southern neighbour, Yemen, has been torn apart by a war between the Saudi-backed government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and Houthi rebels backed by Iran. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to prop up Hadi’s government after the Shia Houthi rebels seized the capital Sana’a. The rebels continue to hold much of the country.
United Nations-backed talks have failed to broker a political settlement to end the fighting, which has left more than 8,600 people dead since the coalition intervened. A cholera outbreak has claimed more than 2,100 lives in Yemen since April as hospitals struggle to secure supplies amid a coalition air and sea blockade. The UN has warned Yemen now stands on the brink of famine.
www.theguardian.com/...
Hariri’s resignation as PM of Lebanon is due to fears about Iran influenced assassination attempt. He has taken refuge in….Saudi Arabia.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri has resigned, saying in a televised broadcast from Saudi Arabia that he feared for his life, while also fiercely criticising Iran.
He accused Iran of sowing "fear and destruction" in several countries, including Lebanon.
Mr Hariri's father, former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, was assassinated in 2005.
The Hariri family is close to Saudi Arabia, Iran's regional competitor.
Mr Hariri has been prime minister since December 2016, after previously holding the position between 2009 and 2011.
www.bbc.com/...
And, of course, it’s just coincidence that Saudi Arabia’s king picked this moment in time to clean house over domestic corruption.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Saturday removed a prominent prince who headed the National Guard, replaced the economy minister and announced the creation of a new anti-corruption committee.
The Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news channel also reported late Saturday that 11 princes and dozens of former ministers were detained in a new anti-corruption probe headed by the kingdom's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who was also named to oversee the new committee.
Al-Arabiya reported that the committee is looking into devastating and deadly floods that overwhelmed parts of the city of Jiddah in 2009 and is investigating the Saudi government's response to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus that has killed several hundred people in the past few years.
abcnews.go.com/...