[21/12/2017 01:35]

RIYADH-SABA
The Arab Coalition spokesperson Colonel Turki Al-Malik, also speaking at the conference said on Wednesday it is time the international community realizes the importance of "stopping international terrorist groups supported by Iran."

In a press conference held in Riyadh on Wednesday, a day after the Yemeni rebels fired a ballistic missile that the Saudi military shot down south of the Saudi capital, Al-Maliki said: “We welcome the condemnation of the Iranian-Houthi missile launch at Riyadh by the U.K. and the U.S. governments, among others. It is time the international community realizes the importance of stopping international terrorist groups supported by Iran that are threatening not only the security and safety of the Kingdom, but also of the region as a whole.”

“The missile was aimed at populated residential areas in the Riyadh region. There are technical reasons why ballistic missiles can only be intercepted close to the target, but Saudi Royal Air Defense forces monitored the launch and it was intercepted and destroyed south of Riyadh without any losses or casualties,” he said.

In regards to the humanitarian aid supply to Yemen, Al-Maliki said:“After a comprehensive review, we met with the UN representatives to guarantee that there are no arms going to the Iranian-Houthi group. The Coalition will monitor the results of the intensification of security inspection procedures and the response of Iranian-Houthi militias. In the past, plans to hand over Hodeida port to a neutral party were blocked by them.”

“At the moment, more than 85 per cent of Yemeni people live in areas that are under the control of the legitimate Yemeni government. The solution in Yemen would not be a comprehensive military campaign on all fronts,” he said.

Welcoming the mass defection of the forces loyalist to the slain Ali Abdullah Saleh to the Yemeni government's side, he said: “We welcome all the forces joining the legitimate Yemeni government that strive to get rid of the Iranian-Houthi militia, which is purposefully retarding the peace process by threatening international security.”

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