UN Security Council slams Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The UN Security Council on Wednesday condemned "in the strongest possible terms" a rocket barrage fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels on several cities in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi cities, including the capital, Riyadh, came under fire Sunday night, and one person was killed and two others injured in the attacks.

"The members of the Security Council underlined that such attacks pose a serious national security threat to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as a wider threat to regional security," the council said in a statement.

Security Council members "expressed alarm" at the Houthi's stated intent to continue such attacks on Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region, the council added.

The member states further expressed "grave concern" at Yemen's deteriorating humanitarian situation as Saudi Arabia continues to lead a coalition of Arab countries seeking to oust the Houthis from the country.

The council "called on all parties to the conflict to allow and facilitate safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access".

Yemen has been wracked by conflict since 2014, when Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including the capital Sanaa.

The following year, Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched a massive air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains and shoring up the pro-Saudi government.

Riyadh has repeatedly accused the Houthis of acting as a proxy force for Shia Iran, Saudi Arabia’s arch-foe in the region.