Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 29-10-2016
Yemen’s Houthi leader has denied that a long-range ballistic missile was targeting the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
Houthi rebels reportedly launched the missile on Friday from Saada province, a Houthi stronghold just 500km across the border from Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-led military coalition – which is backing Yemen’s pro-government forces in the conflict with the Shia fighters say the missile was “intercepted and destroyed” before it could do any damage – about 65km from Makkah, home to some of Islam’s most sacred sites.
It would be the deepest strike yet to hit Saudi Arabia, which has been engaged in a series of deadly border clashes with the Houthis since they overthrew the Yemeni government in 2014 and seized large parts of the country, including the capital, Sanaa.
Mohammed al-Bekheity, a Houthi leader, denied that the missile targeted Mecca.
“We do not target civilians and, in turn, we would not target holy areas.”
Al-Bekheity says the aim behind the coalition’s allegation was to garner sympathy from Muslims and the international community.
“After Saudi Arabia’s crimes against Yemenis were exposed, drawing international sympathy towards Yemen, here it is using such allegations to attract attention towards it.”
The Houthi-affiliated SABA news agency reports that the missile hit the international airport in the Saudi city of Jeddah.
– Agencies
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