No Filipino hurt in missile attack on Riyadh: DFA

March 26, 2018

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said no Filipinos were reported among the casualties after Houthi rebels in Yemen fired seven ballistic missiles towards Riyadh and several areas in Saudi Arabia late Sunday evening.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday condemned the latest missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, which left one person dead and two wounded.

“The Philippines strongly condemns the latest missile attacks against Saudi Arabia. These attacks targeting Riyadh and other heavily populated areas are a violation of international law and must stop,” Cayetano said

Cayetano lauded the Kingdom for the successful interception of the missiles, saying this saved the lives of many Saudi citizens as well as foreign nationals, including the close to 1 million Filipinos working there.

Ambassador to Riyadh Adnan Alonto said three missiles were launched towards Riyadh: one towards Khalid Mushait; one towards Narjan; and two towards Jizan. All were intercepted and destroyed by Saudi air defense systems.

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

Alonto said Sunday’s 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. He said both missiles were intercepted and destroyed. DMS