The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said on Thursday that it had intercepted and destroyed multiple drones launched toward Saudi Arabia.
Coalition spokesman Turki Al-Maliki said on the social media platform X on Thursday afternoon that the forces intercepted and destroyed four drones over Riyadh and Medina and another over Riyadh in separate incidents.
Earlier in the day, the coalition said its forces had destroyed four drones launched toward the Eastern Province.
Meanwhile, Yemen's Houthi group said it had launched four missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia over the past 48 hours.
In a televised statement aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the attacks targeted the Saudi Defense Ministry in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, a facility belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco in Yanbu, and Abha International Airport in the southwestern city of Abha.
All targets were "directly hit," causing air traffic disruption and a fire at the oil facility, Sarea claimed.
In a separate development, the Houthis claimed that Saudi Arabia struck an Indian yacht near Yemen's Zuqar Island in the southern Red Sea, alleging 14 Indian nationals were aboard.
Sarea said Houthi forces were carrying out a rescue operation and would provide further details later.
There was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia.
Zuqar Island lies north of the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world's key maritime shipping routes.
The developments came amid intensified fighting in Yemen, with the Saudi-backed government forces trying to reverse Houthi territorial gains. The Houthis have also continued missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia.
Saudi-led coalition says intercepted drones as Houthis claim new attacks on Saudi Arabia
At least 16 people have been killed and 11 seriously injured as of 05:20 on Friday after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Thursday night, according to Nagqu City's earthquake relief headquarters.
Local rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the epicenter of the quake in Baqeng County in Xizang’s Nagqu City, with an advance team from the Baqen County Fire and Rescue Brigade, consisting of eight personnel and two vehicles, successfully rescuing one trapped survivor after arriving at the scene in the early hours of Friday.
The Xizang Fire and Rescue Corps immediately mobilized 347 rescue personnel, 82 fire vehicles, and 15 search-and-rescue dogs, along with over 4,200 pieces of equipment and more than 9,400 items of logistical support supplies, to the quake zone.
Public security departments in Xizang also dispatched over 300 police officers to assist emergency rescue and relief operations. The police contingent will help evacuate residents to safe areas, assess structural damage to buildings, and ensure security in affected areas.
The epicenter of the quake, which struck at 22:33 on Thursday at a depth of 10km, was monitored at 32.40 degrees north latitude and 93.79 degrees east longitude, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
Xizang has activated a Level-II earthquake disaster emergency response, according to the regional emergency command center.
Maru Township, at the epicenter of the earthquake, is about 70 km from the county seat.
Lhawang Dagpo, deputy head of the township, said there had been reports of collapsed houses in Maru, and that rescue and relief operations were underway in villages across the township.
He added that the tremor was clearly felt at the township government office, where the walls of the office building sustained cracks.
Strong shaking was reported in the county seat of Baqen, where power was cut off and telecommunications services were disrupted.
Tremors were also felt in other parts of Xizang, including Qamdo and Nyingchi.
The office of the State Council earthquake relief headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management activated a Level-IV emergency response after the earthquake, sending a work team to the affected areas to guide emergency response and disaster relief work, according to the ministry.
A 4.3-magnitude aftershock was felt in Zadoi County in Qinghai Province, which borders Baqen County, at 23:12 on Thursday, according to CENC.
Strong tremors were felt in townships along the border between the two counties, with cracks appearing in some houses. No building collapses or casualties have been confirmed in these areas.
At least 16 killed in Xizang earthquake: local emergency command
