Iran supply of missiles ‘act of war’: Saudi Arabia

By Hamza Takin

RIYADH (AA) – Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman said Tuesday Iran’s supply of missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen was an “act of war” against the kingdom.

The supply of missiles by Tehran to Houthi militias could constitute “a direct military aggression by the Iranian regime and may be considered an act of war against the kingdom,” the official SPA news agency quoted him as saying during a phone call with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

His statements came days after Saudi air defense forces intercepted a ballistic missile they said was fired towards the capital Riyadh on Saturday.

Johnson, for his part, condemned the missile fire by Houthi rebels toward Riyadh and the deliberate targeting of civilians. He reiterated his country’s support for the oil-rich kingdom in confronting security threats.

Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of arming Houthi rebels, who overran much of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014.

In 2015, Saudi Arabia and Arab allies launched a massive air campaign aimed at reversing Houthi military gains and shoring up Yemen’s embattled government.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are regional arch foes. Iran is a major supporter of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime, while Saudi Arabia backs the Syrian opposition.