Saudis shoot down missile

SAUDI Arabia has intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile near Riyadh’s international airport after it was launched from Yemen, in an escalation of the kingdom’s war against Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

The missile attack was the first aimed by the Shiite rebels at the very heart of the Saudi capital.

A loud explosion was heard and smouldering debris landed inside the King Khalid International Airport, just north of Riyadh, after the missile was shot down but authorities reported no major damage or loss of life.