Houthis: We Launched a 'Zelzal 3' Missile Toward Saudi Arabia

Official Iranian news agencies, citing Houthi sources in Yemen, have reported the launch of a 'Zelzal 3' missile from inside Yemen into Saudi Arabia. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that a Zelzal 3 missile was fired on Sunday evening at a Saudi military base in 'Najran.' IRNA referenced a report from Al-Masirah, the official Houthi outlet, stating that the missile was launched by the 'missile unit of the Yemeni army and popular committees' controlled by the Houthi Shiite militants. No independent source has confirmed this news yet. The report claims that the missile 'hit the target precisely and caused significant damage to Saudi forces and their military equipment.' Zelzal missiles are Iranian-made, but Iranian news agencies recently reported the unveiling of a new ballistic missile called 'Zelzal 3' by the 'military industries section of the Yemeni army and popular committees,' which they claim has been 'indigenized' in Yemen. According to Al-Masirah, the Zelzal 3 'has high destructive power and the ability to penetrate gatherings and operations rooms. This missile is 6 meters long, has a warhead weighing half a ton, and a range of 65 kilometers.' Iranian news agencies have also reported the launch of several other missiles of the same type into Saudi Arabia in the past two months. Saudi Arabia has not yet reacted to this report, but it has previously stated that it intercepted missiles fired from Yemen with its missile defense system. While Iranian news agencies report on the launch of Zelzal missiles by the Houthis into Saudi Arabia, Iranian officials deny any military or arms assistance to the Houthis. However, a British Foreign Office official recently stated that the ministry has received 'reports' of military and arms assistance from Iran to the Houthis. Iran's missile program has been criticized by the United Nations and several world governments. The Houthi militants in Yemen are a Shiite group that, in 2014, protested against 'discrimination' by the central government and 'corruption' in Yemen, using armed action to overthrow the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and took control of Sana'a, the capital of Yemen. In April 2015, Saudi Arabia formed a coalition of Arab and Islamic countries to support Hadi's government and began attacking Houthi positions and their allies. The United Nations and the governments of the United States and Britain recognize Mansur Hadi's government as the legitimate and legal government of Yemen.