SANAA/RIYADH, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said Sunday it had launched fresh ballistic missile attacks against targets in the Saudi capital Riyadh and government troops in southern Yemen, as its fighters consolidated gains following the withdrawal of rival forces from the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in separate statements posted on social media platform X that two ballistic missiles targeted King Khalid International Airport and a financial center in Riyadh, claiming the operation had "successfully achieved its objectives."

Sarea claimed that two Houthi drones had struck No. 5 and No. 6 oil pumping stations along Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh region.

Sarea also claimed that Houthi forces fired six ballistic missiles at troop gatherings at the Qa'wa military base and nearby positions in the southern province of Lahj, killing or wounding dozens of soldiers and destroying several military vehicles.

In another statement, Sarea said that Saudi forces had carried out 75 air and missile strikes across five Yemeni provinces over the past 24 hours, claiming civilian casualties.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said on X that it had intercepted and destroyed three drones over the Mecca and Medina regions of Saudi Arabia.

Sarea rejected the Saudi claims, describing the allegations as "fabricated" and insisting that the group's cross-border operations targeted only Saudi oil facilities and military installations.

In a later statement, the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed a drone over the Medina region.

The claims could not be independently verified.

The developments came as government-aligned forces announced their withdrawal from positions overlooking Bab al-Mandab. The withdrawal came after Houthi fighters seized several strategic positions in Lahj, including areas overlooking key routes toward Yemen's southern port city of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Yemen has been mired in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government.