File image.
On June 30, a large explosion was seen in the sky over the city of Khamis Mushait in the southern Saudi province of ‘Asir.
Local sources in Khamis Mushait claimed that the explosion was the result of a successful interception of a ballistic missile by Saudi air defenses. The Saudi-led coalition is yet to official confirm this.
Follow the mysterious explosion, operations at Abha International Airport, which is located just eight kilometers to the west of Khamis Mushait, were halted. No explosions were reported at or near the airport, however.
The Houthis (Ansar Allah) were blamed for the alleged ballistic missile attack on Khamis Mushait by unofficial Saudi sources.
The Yemen group carried out dozens of attacks with ballistic missiles and suicide drones at the city and the nearby Abha International Airport over the last few years. However, it is currently committed to a ceasefire agreement with the Saudi-led coalition.
The agreement, which was brokered by the United Nations, entered into effect on April 2 and was supposed to end on June 2. Nevertheless, it was extended at the very last day for two more months.
Under the ceasefire agreement, the Houthis suspended their military operations inside Yemen as well as their drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis are yet to address the explosion over Khamis Mushait. The ceasefire in Yemen could collapse if the group was indeed behind the explosion. The Saudi-led coalition will likely respond by resuming its airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen.
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