Practice English with NewsPractice with News
Politics254 words2 min read

Missile Attack on Riyadh Damages Kindergarten and Clinics

an aerial view of a city with tall buildings
Photo by Datingscout on Unsplash
0:00 / 0:00

Listen to the story

A kindergarten and several medical clinics in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, sustained damage after being struck by fragments from a missile fired by the Houthi movement, according to reports. The incident occurred amid a wave of strong explosions that shook the city.

The Houthis, who control large parts of northern Yemen, announced that they had once again targeted Riyadh's international airport, describing the strike as part of a renewed military operation. The group has repeatedly claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi infrastructure over the past several years.

Following the attack, the United States issued a warning urging its citizens in Saudi Arabia to remain vigilant, signaling continued concern over potential follow-up strikes. Authorities have not yet released detailed information on the scale of the damage or the number of people affected.

Saudi Arabia has frequently reported that its air defense systems have successfully intercepted Houthi missiles and drones aimed at key sites, including airports and oil facilities. It remains unclear whether similar interception efforts were made during this latest attack.

The strike adds to a prolonged period of hostilities between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition, which has been engaged in the Yemen conflict for years. Despite periods of relative calm and diplomatic efforts toward a ceasefire, sporadic attacks have continued to disrupt the fragile truce process.

No casualties have been officially confirmed in connection with this latest incident, and both Saudi and Yemeni officials have yet to issue further statements detailing the full extent of the damage or any planned response.

Vocabulary7 words

clinics
places where people get medical treatment
fragments
small broken pieces from an explosion
operation
a planned military action
vigilant
watching closely for danger
intercepted
stopped something before it reached its target
hostilities
acts of fighting between groups
truce
an agreement to stop fighting for a time

๐Ÿ“š Ready to use these words in a real conversation?

Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.

Quiz

1. What did the Houthi movement claim to have targeted again?
2. What has Saudi Arabia previously said about its air defense systems?
3. True or False: Officials have confirmed casualties from this attack.

โœ… Nice work on the quiz!

Keep the momentum going โ€” book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.

Preply โ€” learn a language with a live tutor

Discussion questions

  1. What factors make it difficult to resolve long conflicts like the one in Yemen?
  2. How effective do you think missile defense systems are in protecting civilians?
  3. Why might warnings to foreign citizens be issued after such attacks?
  4. What role should international diplomacy play in stopping these recurring strikes?

๐ŸŽ“ Enjoyed this story?

Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.

Preply โ€” learn a language with a live tutor

More Politics stories