By Roy Mabasa
The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh called for calm and vigilance among the Filipino community in Saudi Arabia amid reports Wednesday of a Houthi-launched ballistic missile from Yemen being intercepted by Saudi Arabian Air Defense Systems over Riyadh.
Philippine Embassy Riyadh via Twitter / MANILA BULLETIN
According to the Philippine embassy, it is currently verifying additional details regarding the latest missile attack on the Saudi capital.
So far, there have been no reports of damages to property or life.
In a statement, the embassy further urged the Filipino community to immediately report to the Embassy any information on the latest missile attack, especially if any Filipinos are affected.
Based on initial reports, Yemen's Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile at Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, saying the projectile traveled more than 800 kilometers into the kingdom on Wednesday.
Al Masirah, a TV network run by the Houthis, claimed responsibility for the attack on Twitter, saying the rebels fired a Burkan 2-H, a Scud-type missile, towards the Saudi defence ministry.
Sharaf Lokman, a spokesman for the Houthis, said the attack came after Saleh al-Samad - president of the Supreme Political Council that runs Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and other rebel-held areas - declared the start of "a year of ballistic missiles".