Saudi says it intercepted Scud missile fired from Yemen

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a Scud missile fired on its territory by rebel forces in neighbouring Yemen early Saturday as momentum gathers for peace talks in Switzerland next weekend.

“The Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepted it with a Patriot missile,” said a statement from the Saudi-led coalition which has been waging an air war against the rebels since March 26.

Coalition aircraft destroyed the launchpad for the 2:45 am (2345 GMT Friday) attack on the southwestern city of Khamis Mushait, said the statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

The missile was fired from south of the Huthi rebel bastion of Saada in Yemen’s northern mountains, it added.

Destroying the missile capabilities of the Huthis and their allies in the armed forces has been a top priority of the coalition bombing campaign.

The Scud launch came a day after rebel allies killed four Saudi troops in cross-border attacks clouding preparations for UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva on June 14.