The Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen attempted for the third time to attack the holy city of Makkah with ballistic missiles.
Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed two rockets fired towards Makkah. The first was intercepted over Taif city and the second was intercepted over Jeddah.
The Houthis first attempted to attack Makkah in October 2016 and a second time in July 2017.
Spokesman for the Saudi-led Arab to restore legitimacy in Yemen, Colonel Turki al-Maliki, confirmed the attack, saying the rockets were intercepted by the Kingdom.
Yemeni Information Minister Muamer al-Iryani condemned the development, saying it revealed the Iranian regime’s “plot to claim as many civilian lives as possible and provoke Muslims throughout the world”.
The attack revealed that the Houthis are completely controlled by Iran in order to implement its agenda in escalating regional tensions, while totally disregarding the dire economic and humanitarian conditions in Yemen, he added.
Yemen’s deputy Awqaf Minister Ahmed Atieh echoed Iryani’s remarks, condemning the Houthis for attempting to target Makkah during the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
He accused to Asharq Al-Awsat the Houthis of violating all that is holy to Muslims, adding that the militias and their Iranian agenda can only be deterred by firm and immediate military action.
