Saudi air defense intercepts Houthi ballistic missile over Najran
Al-Maliki urges international community to take serious steps to stop blatant Iranian violations
and violating international humanitarian law,” he added.
The scattered fragments of the missile caused minor damage to the private property of one citizen; however, there was no loss of life, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Al-Maliki renewed his call for the international community to take more serious and effective steps to stop the continued smuggling and transfer of ballistic missiles and weapons to terrorist groups and outlaws by Iran, and to hold the country accountable for its threats to regional and international security.
The Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen intensified their attacks on against Saudi Arabia last year, targeting several civilian areas in the Kingdom.
Last month, Houthi militias fired a ballistic missile at Riyadh, this time targeting Al-Yamamah Royal Palace in the Saudi capital.
In November, the militias launched a missile targeting King Khalid International Airport which was shot down without causing any damage.
A UN Security Council-appointed panel confirmed the missile was manufactured in Iran, along with three other missiles fired from Yemen toward the Kingdom in 2017.
Earlier, the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said the US had “concrete proof” that Iran was providing the Houthis in Yemen with ballistic missiles in direct violation of the international arms embargo on Yemen and the weapons export ban on Iran.
Houthi aggression toward Saudi Arabia has caused a global outcry with a number of countries and organizations condemning the launch of ballistic missiles targeting the Kingdom.