The Turkish Foreign Ministry has "strongly" condemned the rocket attack targeting the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
In a brief statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry noted that the Saudi capital has become the target of rocket strikes for the second time in the last three days and expressed its strong condemnation of these attacks. The ministry wished the Saudi people well from the missile attacks that were aimed at civilians and were reportedly intercepted by Saudi air defense forces. This Turkish condemnation comes at a time when relations between Ankara and Riyadh are noticeably strained over several issues, including the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in 2018.
Earlier today, a loud explosion was heard in Riyadh's sky, which local sources reported was the result of Saudi air defense forces intercepting a missile launched towards the city. This incident follows the announcement by the Saudi-led Arab coalition last Saturday about intercepting and destroying a missile launched by Houthi forces from Yemen towards Riyadh. It is worth noting that the Houthi group denied executing attacks against Saudi Arabia within the 24 hours preceding the attack. Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia has led an Arab coalition carrying out intensive military operations in Yemen in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, which is fighting against Houthi forces backed by Iran.
