The Saudi Pro League has reportedly been forced to postpone three high-profile fixtures, including a match featuring Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr side, following a dramatic and alarming escalation in missile attacks originating from Yemen's Houthi movement. According to an official statement published late Tuesday on the league's website, the disruptions are officially blamed on logistical considerations and mandatory rest periods.

The rescheduled fixtures include the clash between league leaders Al Hilal and Al Riyadh, as well as Al Ittihad versus Al Shabab, both pushed back to December 19. Meanwhile, the fixture between Al Ahli and Ronaldo’s Al Nassr has been pushed extraordinarily far into the future, to March 6, 2027, highlighting the deep uncertainty surrounding regional security. The Saudi regime insists that other matches in week nine will proceed according to the previously announced calendar without modifications.

This sporting disruption unfolds against the backdrop of intensifying conflict, as Houthi forces step up their missile campaign targeting strategic locations across the kingdom. Earlier on Monday, Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League fixture against Uzbek club Neftchi Fergana in Riyadh was delayed by an hour after the Saudi-led coalition claimed it intercepted a missile heading for the capital. Debris from intercepted projectiles continues to pose hazards, with civil defense reporting injuries.

Observers suggest that any notion the Saudi regime could successfully contain the multi-year conflict within Yemen's borders has completely unraveled over recent days. Persistent strikes targeting critical energy infrastructure, including Saudi Aramco facilities and King Khalid International Airport, continue to expose profound vulnerabilities despite the regime's ongoing military campaign in Yemen.

Source: www.aljazeera.com