NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UN Abdallah Al-Mouallimi has said that Iran is the “key actor” responsible for Yemeni suffering.

Al-Mouallimi was speaking at a Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict on Tuesday.

He added that it was laughable to hear Tehran’s representative speak at the UN in defense of Yemenis.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen, he said, is taking extreme care not to harm civilians, and has, therefore, been constantly reviewing and updating its target lists.

He said that Iranian-backed Houthi militia have been committing the biggest abuses against Yemeni civilians since taking over power three years ago in the country.