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UN human rights body condemns Houthi missile launch into Saudi Arabia

Xinhua, November 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) condemned on Tuesday the firing of a ballistic missile into Saudi Arabia by Yemen-based Houthis and their allies last week.

"The launching of any weapon indiscriminately into an area filled with civilians is forbidden under international humanitarian law," OHCHR said in a written statement.

"We urge all parties to the conflict to exercise restraint and to ensure full respect for international human rights and international humanitarian law," it added.

The Yemeni Houthi army's spokesman denied last Friday Saudi allegations that the missile was targeting the holy city of Mecca, noting that it was aiming a Saudi airport in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

Saudi state news agency SPA reported on Oct. 27 that a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis from the Yemeni northern province of Saada was intercepted 65 km from Mecca.

No damage or casualties were reported in the incident, SPA said, adding that Saudi warplanes struck the missile launch pad in Saada and completely destroyed it.

Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen conflict in March last year to restore its ally President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and his government to power, after Houthis and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh fought a revolution against "Hadi government corruption" and drove Hadi with his cabinet to flee into exile.

The Saudi-led coalition has ever since failed to restore Hadi or recapture northern provinces from the allied Houthi and Saleh forces which has also controlled the capital Sanaa. Endit