Saudi Arabia: Projectile fire in Jizan province wounds three civilians May 26 /update 1

Event

On Tuesday, May 26, three civilians were wounded by shrapnel following projectile fire in a village near the Yemeni border in Jizan province. Defense officials reported the incident, but they did not provide the exact location of the incident. It is indicated that the missile was launched by Houthi rebel forces. A house was also damaged in the incident. The injured civilians were taken to hospital for treatment.

Further missile attacks and other conflict spillover incidents are possible in Jizan and other border regions over the near term.

Context

Houthi rebels have claimed several missile attacks targeting Saudi facilities and infrastructure since late May 2019. The group has targeted airports in Abha, Jizan, and Najran. A Houthi-claimed missile attack wounded 26 people at the arrivals hall at Abha International Airport (AHB) on June 12. Material damage was also reported.

Reports estimate that Houthi militants have fired over 200 missiles at Saudi Arabia since 2015, when Saudi Arabia began backing the Yemeni government against Houthi separatists in the Yemeni Civil War. Southern Saudi Arabia is a frequent target of Houthi missile attacks, and Riyadh has also seen several missile attacks in the last several months; however, they rarely result in substantial damages or casualties.

Advice

Individuals in the affected area are advised to monitor developments and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities and their home governments. Seek shelter immediately in the event of a missile attack.