Saudi Arabia shoots down ballistic missile fired by Houthi terrorists

Houthis chew qat as they rally in Sanaa on Aug. 17, 2018, in support of their colleagues in the front line. Houthis have been firing missile after missile toward populated areas in Saudi Arabia in a desperate terror campaign amid an offensive by a Saudi-led coalition in support of Yemen's legitimate government. (Reuters photo)

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s air defense forces intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Houthi militia toward the southern city of Najran.

The attack is the latest in a series of missile launches targeting densely populated residential areas of Saudi Arabia, including Jazan and Najran, close to the border with Yemen.

Saudi-led Arab coalition’s spokesman, Col. Turki Al-Maliki, said that Saudi aerial defense forces intercepted a missile launched by the Iran-backed militia.

Al-Maliki said that the missile targeted Najran and was aimed at civilian populated areas, but the defense forces were able to intercept and destroy the projectile without any casualties.

The spokesperson added that “this hostile action by the Houthi militia proves the Iranian regime’s continued involvement in supporting the rebels with qualitative capabilities in clear and explicit defiance of UN resolution 2216 and 2231 aimed at safeguarding Saudi Arabia’s security and any regional and international threats.”