No Filipino casualty in missile attack in Saudi Arabia

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday reported that no Filipino was among the casualties of the latest ballistic missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, which left one person dead and two others wounded.

Houthi rebels in Yemen fired seven ballistic missiles towards Riyadh and several other areas in Saudi Arabia on Sunday (Riyadh time).

Ambassador to Riyadh Adnan Alonto said three missiles were launched towards Saudi’s capital, one towards Khalid Mushait, one towards Narjan, and two towards Jizan.

All were intercepted and destroyed by Saudi air defense systems.

According to Alonto, an Egyptian national was killed and two others were injured when missile fragments fell on their house in Riyadh.

Meanwhile, he assured that the Embassy and the Consulate General in Jeddah continue to monitor the situation.

“We request our kababayans to remain calm but vigilant and to immediately report to the Embassy or Consulate General any Filipinos who may have been affected by the attacks,” he asked nationals in the area.

The envoy said the missile attack was the third targeting Riyadh in the past four months.

In November, Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile towards the Riyadh International Airport and another also towards Riyadh in December.

Both missiles were intercepted and destroyed.

The latest attack took place on the third anniversary of the conflict between Houthi rebels who are in control of most of Yemen and a Saudi-led military coalition supporting the internationally recognized government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the Philippine government joins the international community in condemning the ballistic missile launches.

“These attacks targeting Riyadh and other heavily populated areas are a violation of international law and must stop,” he said. (PNA)

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