Saudi Arabia reports fresh Houthi attacks, issues warning for Mecca

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted six Houthi ballistic missiles Thursday aimed at Taif and Yanbu, after issuing brief warnings covering Mecca and several other cities.

The missile strikes came alongside intense ground fighting in Yemen that killed at least 150 fighters and troops on both sides in 24 hours, according to an AFP tally, including clashes over hills overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The escalation follows the collapse of a years-long truce in July, after which the Houthis imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, attacked its tankers and territory, and seized parts of Yemen's Red Sea coast.

Last week Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of targeting Mecca with a drone for the first time since 2017, an accusation the group denies, and days later the Houthis struck Riyadh for the first time in years.

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