Saudi Arabia said early Tuesday it had launched overnight air raids against targets in&nbsp;Yemen&nbsp;in retaliation for a ballistic missile fired by Huthi rebels, destroying the launch site in Sanaa.

"We have destroyed sites in Sanaa linked to ballistic missiles and drones," the official Saudi news agency SPA tweeted.

It earlier said the Saudi army had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired at the kingdom by Huthi rebels in neighbouring&nbsp;Yemen.

Iran-backed Huthi rebels control much of northern&nbsp;Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, which they seized in 2014.

A Saudi-led coalition intervened in&nbsp;Yemen&nbsp;a year later to prop up the government in a conflict that has left tens of thousands dead and millions displaced.

The SPA said the target of the retaliatory strike included an area of "caves and secret ballistic missile warehouses on the outskirts of Sanaa".

The Saudi defence ministry, cited by the news agency, denounced the Huthi missile-firing and the rebels' "vicious and irresponsible behaviour of targeting civilians".

"The ministry of defence will take all necessary and deterrent measures to protect civilians and its territory," the SPA said.

Saudi Arabia said early Tuesday it had launched overnight air raids against targets in Yemen in retaliation for a ballistic missile fired by Huthi rebels, destroying the launch site in Sanaa.

Saudi Arabia said early Tuesday it had launched overnight air raids against targets in Yemen in retaliation for a ballistic missile fired by Huthi rebels, destroying the launch site in Sanaa. "We have destroyed sites in Sanaa linked to ballistic missiles and drones," the official Saudi news agency SPA tweeted. It earlier said the Saudi army had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired at the kingdom by Huthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen. Iran-backed Huthi rebels control much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, which they seized in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen a year later to prop up the government in a conflict that has left tens of thousands dead and millions displaced. The SPA said the target of the retaliatory strike included an area of "caves and secret ballistic missile warehouses on the outskirts of Sanaa". The Saudi defence ministry, cited by the news agency, denounced the Huthi missile-firing and the rebels' "vicious and irresponsible behaviour of targeting civilians". "The ministry of defence will take all necessary and deterrent measures to protect civilians and its territory," the SPA said.

Saudi Arabia targets Huthi rebels in Yemen after ballistic missile attack

Amid escalating tensions Saudi Arabian-led coalition fighter jets attacked barracks and military sites of the armed Houthi movement in Yemen's capital Sanaa.

5 air attacks hit near Sanaa airport, target parts of Yemen's capital

Saudi coalition attack Houthi military sites in Yemen's Sanaa