Houthis Call Saudi Claim of Drones Downed over Mecca and Medina 'Baseless'

Yemen's Houthis have dismissed as 'baseless' the Saudi-led coalition's claim that it shot down drones in the skies over Mecca and Medina. The Houthi military spokesman said the group had carried out no operation deep inside Saudi Arabia. Qatar-based outlet Al Jazeera reported the news on Saturday.

In Sanaa, the Houthis said airstrikes had hit the Yarim district of Ibb province and the Al-Zakira and Al-Masahin areas of the Al-Shamayatain district in Taiz province.

The spokesman said 93 airstrikes had taken place in the past 24 hours. The strikes targeted civilian installations and property in Sanaa and in the provinces of Saada, Hajjah, Amran, Al-Jawf, Marib, Al-Bayda, Ibb, Taiz and Lahj.

According to his claim, the total number of airstrikes since the escalation began is about 3,700. He said the strikes were carried out by Saudi Arabia and caused many casualties.

The Houthi military spokesman added that their operations in Saudi Arabia are focused only on oil facilities and on the military bases from which aircraft are flown to attack areas under the control of the Sanaa authorities.