Video: Iranian-backed Houthis launch missiles at Saudi Arabia
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Intercepts 7 Ballistic Missiles Fired by the Iranian-Backed Houthi Militia. Iran uses terrorism to bolster instability in the region including from Yemen. Iranian-Houthi rockets targeted civilian areas. Dramatic video of missiles fired captured
Col. Turki Al Maliki, the Spokesperson for the Coalition Forces to Support the Legitimate Government in Yemen, stated that, according to the Coalition Air Defense Forces, seven ballistic missiles were shot towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from within the Yemen this evening.
Colonel al-Maliki, further iterated the 7 missile’s target directions: three were centrally poised in the direction of Riyadh, one towards the Southwest in Khamis Mushait, one along the Southern border targeting Najran, two aiming for the southern city of Jizan, and one was randomly launched with the intent of hitting a densely populated civilian area. With credit to the Saudi Royal Air Defense Forces, all seven ballistic missiles were intercepted and destroyed.
According to preliminary information, the interception resulted in fragments raining on a few residential neighborhoods and, at the issuance of this statement, the loss of life of an Egyptian resident, in addition to material damage to civilian objects-the details of which will shortly be announced by the relevant authorities.
Col. Al Maliki iterated that this hostile action by the Houthi militia, which indiscriminately targets the Kingdom’s civilian areas, proves the continued involvement of the Iranian’s regime that supports and increases the military, quality capabilities of the Houthis.
These aggressive actions are in blatant violation to the UN Security Resolution 2216 and 2231. These hostile acts continue to pose a direct threat to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and threaten regional, as well as, international security. The firing of ballistic missiles towards populated cities and villages is also in direct violation of International Humanitarian Law. These actions by the Houthi Militia highlights the increased capacity of terrorist organizations and those who stand behind them, as state sponsors of terrorism like the Iranian Regime.
Video Footage of the Interceptions:
View the missile aftermath above or click this link to view the video on Youtube.
Al-Maliki explained, at a press conference in Riyadh, Iran’s support to the Houthis, including supplying them with ballistic missiles. Col. Al-Maliki made the following remarks:
The Houthis are flagrantly violating International Law by firing missiles at civilian areas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Houthis have now launched a total of 104 missiles at Saudi Arabia. Colonel Turki Al-Maliki said that, and on Sunday evening, the Coalition’s Air Defense Forces intercepted seven ballistic missiles fired from within Yemen towards the Kingdom’s territory.
Colonel Al-Maliki reiterated that three of them were fired in the direction of Riyadh; one towards Khamis Mushait; one towards Najran; and two towards Jazan. These missiles were launched indiscriminately to target civilian population centers. All of the missiles were intercepted and destroyed by the Saudi Royal Air Defense forces.
The Houthis are the first terrorist group in history to possess ballistic missiles. The acquisition of ballistic missiles by the Houthis terrorist organizations is a very serious development. The supply of ballistic missiles to the Houthis is a dangerous escalation by Iran.
The coalition calls on the international community to condemn these missile attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which are in violation of UN resolutions. The world now faces big challenges, especially the Middle East, which suffers from geopolitical issues as a result of Iranian behavior spreading chaos and intolerance.
View the missile aftermath above or click this link to view the video on Youtube.
View the missile aftermath above or click this link to view the video on Youtube.
The Iranian regime is smuggling arms to the Houthis in violation of UN resolutions. Ports under control of the Houthis are entry points for smuggled missiles into Yemen. Hodeidah Port is being used for such smuggling. The coalition has intercepted an Iranian-made “Siyad”-type missile which was being smuggled to Yemen (on display at the press conference)
78 % of the missiles launched towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia comes from Sa’ada and from north of the Amran governorate. The Houthis also use Sana’a airport for training their militias and for launching Iranian-made “Siyad”-type missiles.
Yemen is suffering a disruption of its peace as a result of the extremism of the Houthis, who are armed by Iran. The ballistic missile which targeted Riyadh yesterday was an Iranian “Qiyam” model. Fragments from the missile and analysis of its technical components prove that it was sourced from Iran. Nine residential neighborhoods were affected by the missiles.
Saudi Arabia reserves the right to respond to Iran at an appropriate time and place defending its land and people. Members of the coalition have the right to the legitimate defense of their territory. The UN Security Council must hold Iran accountable for breaches of international law. If Iran does not stop supporting terrorist groups, the international community will take action to force Iran to change its behavior.
Yemen has suffered from Iran’s interference and its support for the Houthi coup. The coalition will continue to back Yemen’s legitimate government until the country becomes stable, and will continue to take measures to ensure stability around Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The coalition supports all efforts to reach a political solution in Yemen.
Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.
Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).
Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.
Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.
His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.
Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.
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