*RIYADH – Huthi rebels in Yemen fired a “projectile” at the southwesternSaudi province of Jazan killing three civilians Saturday, the Saudi-ledcoalition fighting the insurgents said.*——————————

“The terrorist Iranian-Huthi militia has targeted civilians with aprojectile” killing three civilians in Jazan, coalition spokesman ColonelTurki al-Maliki said.

Malki, quoted by the official Saudi Press Agency, did not identify the typeof “projectile” but said it was “launched deliberately to target civilians”and warned of retaliation.

“The Joint Forces Command of the coalition will strike with an iron fistall those who threaten the safety and security of Saudi nationals,residents and critical capabilities” he said.

The Iran-backed Huthi rebels have ramped up missile attacks againstneighbouring Saudi Arabia, which leads a military coalition that has foughtthe insurgents since 2015.

On Tuesday, Saudi air defences intercepted a ballistic missile thattargeted the western city of Yanbu after being fired from rebel-heldterritory in Yemen.

It came as coalition-backed Yemeni forces advance on the rebel-held Red Seaport of Hodeida, the main conduit for humanitarian supplies into a countryteetering on the brink of famine.

In late May, air defences intercepted Huthi missiles over the southerncities of Najran and Jizan but there were no casualties.

Riyadh accuses its regional rival Tehran of supplying the Huthis withballistic missiles, a charge Iran denies.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Arab allies intervened inYemen in 2015 to push back the rebels and restore theinternationally-recognised government to power after the Huthis ousted itfrom swathes of the country including the capital Sanaa.

Nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the alliance launched itsintervention in Yemen in March 2015, contributing to what the UN has calledthe world’s worst humanitarian crisis. – APP/AFP