RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's air defense forces on Friday intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired toward Najran. In a statement carried the Saudi Press Agency, the official spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Brig. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said that the missile was launched by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia deliberately targeting civilians and civilian facilities. "The Houthi militia attempted to target a civilian object protected under International Law, which further affirms the militia's malign intent to continue its violations of the customary international humanitarian law," the spokesman said in the statement. "The Arab Coalition will continue to implement all necessary operational procedures to safeguard civilians and civilian objects in accordance with the customary International Humanitarian Law," Brig. Gen. Al-Maliki added. Friday's attack comes one day after the Houthi militia targeted an oil terminal in Jazan, which resulted in a fire. On Thursday, the Saudi defense forces destroyed as many as eight explosive-laden drones targeting civilians in the Kingdom. The drone attacks also targeted universities in Jazan and Najran. The attacks come despite Saudi Arabia's announcement of a new peace initiative that includes a ceasefire across Yemen. The Houthis have recently intensified their drone and missile attacks against the Kingdom despite global efforts to reach a comprehensive solution to the crisis in Yemen.
