UN Security Council condemns missile attack on Riyadh by Yemeni rebels

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Friday condemned "in the strongest possible terms" a ballistic missile attack on the Saudi capital of Riyadh by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The missile fired on Tuesday, which was believed to be targeting populated civilian areas in Riyadh, was intercepted.

The council also expressed alarm at the Houthis' stated intention to continue these attacks against Saudi Arabia and their claims to launch additional attacks against other states in the region, said the Security Council in a statement.

The council called on all UN member states to fully implement all aspects of the arms embargo against Houthi rebels as required by the relevant Security Council resolutions, and expressed its grave concern about the reports of continuing violations of the embargo.

The council also expressed concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen. It called on all parties to allow safe, rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian supplies and personnel to the populations of all affected governorates, and to facilitate access for essential imports of food, fuel and medical supplies into Yemen and their distribution throughout the country.

The Security Council expressed concerns about the lack of progress in peacemaking and reiterated its call for all parties to engage constructively in the peace efforts of the UN secretary-general's special envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.

The Security Council reaffirmed its strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen, said the statement.

The Saudi-led military coalition has intensified military air campaign against Houthi positions in and around Houthis-held capital Sanaa and other northern provinces since Houthis killed former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Dec. 4.

The coalition has intervened in the Yemeni conflict since March 2015 to roll back Houthi rebels, and backed internationally recognized President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi Houthis forced into exile in Saudi Arabia.

The war has killed more than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly children, and displaced 3 million, reports say. Enditem