Saudis claim Iran supplied missiles for Houthi attacks

SAUDI ARABIA announced yesterday that it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen, saying that the attack “proved” that Iran was arming the rebel group.

The Houthis, who are fighting against Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s internationally-recognised government, have fired four missiles into the kingdom since early November.

None has successfully struck its target but the attacks have prompted both the US and Saudi Arabia to ramp up their criticism of Iran’s alleged role in Yemen.

This week the US imposed sanctions on five Iranian companies and subsidiaries controlled by the Shahid Bakeri Industrial Group, which makes Iranian missiles.

The group’s logo has been found on at least one of the recent missiles fired into Saudi, which the US said was “undeniable” proof that Iran is arming the Houthi rebels. Iran said the evidence was “fabricated”.

A UN investigation concluded that the missiles fired into Saudi Arabia had “a common origin” but stopped short of pointing the finger at Iran.

Turki al-maliki, a spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen, said the Houthis “deliberately targeted densely populated civilian areas” and added: “This hostile act by the Iranbacked Houthis proves the Iranian regime remains implicated in supporting the armed Houthis.”