JEDDAH: Yemen’s Houthi rebels have violated international laws of war in their latest missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, which killed an Egyptian laborer on March 25, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday.
Once again on Monday, the Houthis tried to target Saudi territories by launching a ballistic missile.
The spokesman for the Arab coalition, Col. Turki Al-Malki, on Monday said the air defense forces of the alliance spotted a missile launched by the Iranian-backed Houthis from Saada in Yemen, reported SPA.
Al-Malki said that the missile was heading toward the town of Dhahran Al-Janoub, deliberately targeting civilian populated areas, but it fell inside Yemeni territories at a distance of about 1.75km from southern Saudi borders.
Last month, the Iranian-backed militia fired seven ballistic missiles into Saudi Arabia.
Saudi authorities said their defenses intercepted all seven, but falling debris from one of the missiles killed a migrant worker in the capital Riyadh.
HRW said the missile attacks “violated the laws of war” as they were fired “indiscriminately at populated areas,” calling on the Houthis to cease their attacks.
Over the weekend, Saudi air defenses intercepted another Houthi missile targeting the southern city of Najran.
“The Houthis should immediately stop their indiscriminate missile attacks on populated areas of Saudi Arabia,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at HRW.
Human Rights Watch slams ‘unlawful’ Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia
Human Rights Watch slams ‘unlawful’ Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia
Spain highlights importance of Gaza reconstruction
- Spain officially recognized Palestine as a state in May 2024, in a coordinated move alongside Ireland and Norway
RAMALLAH: The Palestinian prime minister, Mohammed Mustafa, and the Spanish foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, on Friday discussed the latest developments in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
During their telephone conversation they emphasized the need to intensify international efforts to end the Israeli occupation and halt attacks and settler violence, and to secure the release of Palestinian funds held by Israeli authorities.
They affirmed the importance of ongoing efforts relating to plans for the reconstruction of Gaza, and Europe’s significant role in this process. Mustafa and Albares highlighted the need to unify Palestinian institutions in Gaza with those in the West Bank, with the aim of establishing a Palestinian state in line with international resolutions, including last year’s New York Declaration.
They also discussed coordination between their countries, and the strengthening of Spain’s political, diplomatic and financial support for Palestine, and Mustafa thanked Spain for its ongoing support.
Spain officially recognized Palestine as a state in May 2024, in a coordinated move alongside Ireland and Norway. Estephan Salameh, the Palestinian finance and planning minister, is set to visit Spain this month to discuss enhanced cooperation, particularly in the areas of development and reconstruction. Meanwhile, Israel continues operating in the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Prisoners media office said on Friday that Israel carried out numerous raids across the territory, including the major cities of Ramallah and Hebron, according to The Associated Press.
Nearly 50 people were detained, following the arrest of at least 50 other Palestinians on Thursday, most of those in the Ramallah area.
As 2026 begins, the shaky 12-week-old ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has largely ended large-scale Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
But Palestinians are still being killed by Israeli fire, especially along the so-called Yellow Line that delineates areas under Israeli control, and the humanitarian crisis is compounded by frequent winter rains and colder temperatures.
On Friday, American actor and film producer Angelina Jolie visited the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
The only crossing between the territory and a country other than Israel, it remains closed despite Palestinian requests to reopen it to people and aid.
Jolie met with members of the Red Crescent on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing and then visited a hospital in the nearby city of Arish to speak with Palestinian patients on Friday, according to Egyptian officials.
Aid groups say not enough shelter materials are getting into Gaza during the truce.
