New Houthi missile attack against Saudi Arabia is shot down

Iran-backed rebels launched missile at southern city of Jazan from Saada province on Saudi border

Colonel Turki Al Malki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, addresses a news conference in Riyadh on March 26, 2018, a day after Yemen's Houthi rebels fired seven missiles at Saudi Arabia. Faisal Al Nasser / ReutersShow less

Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a ballistic missile at the Saudi city of Jazan on Thursday evening that was intercepted by the kingdom's air defences before it could hit its target.

Colonel Turki Al Malki, spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen, said the missile was launched towards Jazan at 9.35pm from Saada province, a stronghold of the Iran-backed rebels, and was deliberately targeted at densely populated areas in the southern Saudi city.

Col Al Malki said the attack was further evidence of Iran's arming of the Houthi militias, in violation of UN resolutions 2216 and 2231, with the aim of threatening the security of Saudi Arabia and the region, as well as international security.

Launching ballistic missiles towards villages, cities and populated areas is considered a blatant breach of international humanitarian law, he said.

Thursday's attack follows a Houthi missile barrage fired at Saudi Arabia on Sunday. All the missiles were shot down but one person was killed by falling debris in the capital, Riyadh.

Col Al Malki said forensic examination of the wreckage of the missiles — three of which were aimed at Riyadh, two at Jazan, and one each at Najran and Khamis Mushait — proved that they were supplied by Iran.

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Read more:

Iran provides Yemen’s Houthis material for explosives, report says

UN Security Council condemns Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia

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