RIYADH – The spokesman for the Arab Coalition fighting to supportlegitimacy in Yemen confirmed that at exactly 5:26 pm local time, airdefense forces spotted the launch of a ballistic missile launched by Houthimilitias backed by Iran from the Saada governorate,Al Arabiya has reported.

Col. Maliki said that the missile was launched in the direction of southernDhahran and was deliberately launched to target civilian and populatedareas. It fell within Yemeni territory at a distance of 1.75 km from thesouthern border of Saudi Arabia.

Maliki said that Monday’s hostile action by the Iran-backed Houthis provesthe continued involvement of the Iranian regime in arming the militias inqualitative capacities in clear and explicit defiance and violation of UNresolution 2216 and resolution (2231) in order to threaten the security ofSaudi Arabia and the wider regional and international security, adding thatthe firing of ballistic missiles at populated cities and villages iscontrary to international humanitarian law.