Missile fired on Jazan intercepted

RIYADH — Saudi air defense forces on Wednesday intercepted a ballistic missile fired on Jazan city from the rebel-held Yemeni territory, the international coalition supporting the Yemeni government said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency. The missile was successfully destroyed without any damage or casualties on the ground, it said, adding that the air force immediately launched a counterattack and destroyed the launch pad after identifying its location inside the Yemeni territory. The alliance said in an earlier statement that a Bahraini fighter jet taking part in the fight against rebel forces in Yemen crashed Wednesday inside the Saudi territory due to a "technical error". The F-16 jet crashed in the kingdom's southwestern Jazan region near the border with Yemen, the coalition said in a statement carried by SPA. Bahrain's military confirmed that the jet crashed while carrying out its national duty in defending the southern borders of Saudi Arabia. The pilot was saved and is in good health, it said, adding that the plane's wreckage had been found and that an investigation had been launched. The crash comes a day after Bahrain said that three of its soldiers had died in an incident along the Saudi border with Yemen. The Houthi rebels fighting the Yemeni government have intensified rocket attacks across the Saudi border during the past week, prompting the coalition to threaten severe reprisals.