Saudi Air Force intercepts Houthi ballistic missile

Kingdom believes the missile is more evidence of Iranian support for the rebels

A kamikaze drone is seen on display after US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley unveiled previously classified information intending to prove Iran violated UNSCR 2231 by providing the Houthi rebels in Yemen with arms during a press conference at Joint Base Anacostia in Washington, DC, on December 14, 2017.
Haley said Thursday that a missile fired by Huthi militants at Saudi Arabia last month had been made in Iran. "It was made in Iran then sent to Huthi militants in Yemen," Haley said of the missile.
 / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON
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The Saudi Air Defence Force intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels towards the kingdom on Monday evening, an official said.

It was fired from Emran province in Yemen, towards civilian areas in Najran, according to spokesman for the Arab coalition, Col Turki Al Malki.

The missile was intercepted by the Saudi Air Force, with no damage reported, he said.

"Such hostile acts by the Iran-backed Houthi militias prove the continuing involvement of the Iranian regime in supporting the Houthi militias with qualitative capabilities in a flagrant and explicit violation of UN resolutions 2216 and 2231, with the objective of threatening the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as the regional and international stability," he said.

Launching ballistic missiles towards densely populated cities and villages breaches international humanitarian law, he said.

The Houthi rebels are regularly accused by Saudi Arabia of firing ballistic missiles into the kingdom. The missiles are believed to be the result of covert military support from Iran.

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