Saudi-led coalition intercepts Houthi rebel missile fired at Najran

Several civilians were injured by debris from the ballistic missile, coalition spokesman says

Coallition spokesman Col Turki Al Malki said civilians suffered minor injuries from debris from an intercepted Houthi missile fired towards Najran. EPA

The Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen said on Saturday it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile targeting the Saudi Arabian border city of Najran.

Yemen's Houthi rebels fired the missile from their stronghold in Saada, and some people were slightly injured by fragments of the weapon when it was destroyed, coalition spokesman Col Turki Al Malki said in a statement released via the Saudi Press Agency.

"The terrorist Houthi militia is continuing to deliberately and systematically target, with ballistic missiles and UAVs, civilians and civilian objects protected under international humanitarian law," Col Al Malki said.

The Iran-backed rebels have continued to launch attacks despite a unilateral ceasefire declared by the coalition in April to enable Yemen to deal with the coronavirus pandemic that has affected all countries in the region.

The western-backed coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government to power in Sanaa, after it was ousted from the capital by the Houthis in late 2014.

The ensuing war has been in stalemate for years and United Nations-led peace efforts have stalled since late 2018.