Saudi Arabia Destroys Another Houthi Missile Heading Towards Najran

Houthi rebels in Yemen launched another ballistic missile towards Najran province in southern Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and Saudi air defense successfully intercepted the missile. Reuters reported on Saturday, January 30, citing Al-Masirah TV, which is affiliated with the Houthi rebels, claiming that this "short-range missile" targeted a military base. Reuters also quoted a spokesperson for the Saudi army stating that the country's air defense forces successfully destroyed the missile. The report indicates that this incident did not result in any casualties or damage. This missile attack comes just days after Saudi Arabia announced the destruction of "a missile launched from Yemen" that was aimed at the Jazan region in southern Saudi Arabia. State media in Saudi Arabia reported on January 5 that the country had targeted a short-range ballistic missile from the Houthis in Najran. At that time, a spokesperson for the Saudi coalition stated that "this hostile act by the Houthis proves that the Iranian regime continues to support the Houthis." The Houthis, who receive support from Iran, have launched several missiles towards Saudi Arabia, which has intervened in the Yemeni civil war in favor of the country's legitimate government. Reuters notes that such actions, although not causing significant damage, have heightened tensions between Riyadh and Tehran. Previously, the Saudi foreign minister stated that since the spring of 2015, when Saudi Arabia formed a military coalition to defend the legitimate government of Yemen, the country has been targeted by 80 missiles launched by Houthi rebels. Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of providing missile parts and related expertise to the Houthi rebels, a claim denied by the Houthis. Iran, which has never hidden its support for the Houthi rebels in Yemen, describes this support as moral and has denied reports regarding the arming and missile equipping of this group. However, two months ago, Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, acknowledged that the Islamic Republic has also provided "advisory assistance" to the Houthis. Meanwhile, on Friday, January 22, the Associated Press reported, citing parts of a report prepared by UN experts and statements from diplomats, that Iran has violated UN sanctions by supplying missiles and unmanned military aircraft to its supported Houthi fighters in Yemen. The sanctions imposed by the Security Council regarding the Yemeni war have prohibited the direct or indirect supply of arms to the Houthis and their allies since April 2015. The conflicts in Yemen have resulted in nearly 10,000 deaths; more than two million people have been displaced due to the civil war in this country, and a significant portion of the population is struggling with hunger and diseases such as cholera.