JEDDAH: Spokesperson for the Arab Coalition forces supporting the legitimate government in Yemen, Col. Turki Al-Maliki said that at 6:30 p.m. local time (3:30 GMT), coalition air defense forces intercepted a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militia from within the Yemeni territory of Saada governorate, headed toward Saudi Arabia.
Al-Maliki explained that the missile was launched in the direction of the southwestern city of Jazan, and was deliberately launched to target civilian and populated areas, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
“Saudi Royal Air Defense forces succeeded in intercepting and destroying the missile, which did not result in any injuries,” he said.
“This hostile act by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia proves the continued involvement of the Iranian regime in supporting the armed terrorist group in clear and explicit defiance of UN resolution 2216 and resolution 2231, aimed at threatening the security of Saudi Arabia, as well as regional and international security,” Al-Maliki said.
He added that firing ballistic missiles at populated towns and villages is contrary to international humanitarian law.
He pointed out that the total number of ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi militi toward Saudi Arabia has so far reached 195 rockets, which resulted in the deaths of 112 citizens and residents, and wounded hundreds since the Houthi coup on Yemen’s legitimate government.
The coalition spokesperson stressed that the Iranian-backed Houthi militia and those supporting them, who “smuggle these rockets into the Yemeni interior and then launch them indiscriminately at populated cities and terrorize citizens and residents of the Kingdom’s territory, will not escape impunity, and will be pursued until they receive their punishment.
He said, “these acts do not deter coalition forces but rather increase their determination to rid the Yemeni people of the Houthi militia and cut off their flagrant occupations.”