Saudi Arabia says it has shot down a ballistic missile fired into the Kingdom by Houthi rebels and their Iranian allies in the latest incident in Yemen’s civil war that has raged for nearly 19 months.
The missile targeted the southwestern city of Khamis Mushait and was destroyed Tuesday night without causing any injuries, the Saudi Press Agency reported. According to the Associated Press, Houthi militants are known to have a stockpile of Soviet-era Scud missiles and locally designed variants.
The missile launch into Saudi Arabia comes on the heels of a significant flare-up in violence in the war-torn country. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Allies have acknowledged responsibility for a missile attack on a funeral hall in Yemen that killed over 160 civilians. The coalition initially denied carrying out the air raid but later released a statement on Sunday calling the bombing “regrettable and painful” and expressed “its deepest condolences and support” to the families of the victims.
United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon joined U.S. officials in condemning that strike and calling for a cessation to hostilities in Yemen.
On Saturday, a guided missile struck the United Arab Emirates’ HSV Swift, a high-speed ferry formerly operated by the US Navy off the coast of Yemen. The US responded with two guided-missile destroyers and an amphibious transport dock ship from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group, according to reports.
Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Ban Ki Moon in New York.
As violence continues within and around Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Iran are engaged in a war of words in the United Nations through statements by officials. As Iran’s Foreign Minister presses the U.N. to arrange for an Iranian aircraft to bring humanitarian supplies to victims of the deadly attack, Saudi Arabia’s permanent mission to the U.N. has urged the U.N. Security Council to “condemn the terrorist acts committed by the Houthi militias and their allies and has called for appropriate measures against the countries supporting them,” according to a letter obtained by Al-Arabiya.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirms its right to take all appropriate measures to counter the threats by the Iran-funded and backed Houthi-Saleh rebel militias and will spare no effort in protecting the security and safety of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Yemen and its people, and the region, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law,” said the letter.
