Houthi missile hits workers compound in southern Saudi Arabia

A Houthi missile struck a housing complex in Saudi Arabia on Friday, while an Emirati soldier was killed in southern Yemen.
2 min read
28 October, 2017
The Saudi border city of Najran has been a frequent target of Houthi missiles [AFP]

A Houthi missile fired from Yemen hit a housing compound for foreign workers in southern Saudi Arabia, in the latest cross-border attack by the rebel group.

One worker was injured in the missile strike, while a blaze broke out in a nearby residential building causing some damage in the Najran area, Saudi media reported.

"The missile was fired at around 1.17am towards a border village in the Najran region, where it hit a residential complex inhabited by a number of workers," said Saudi Arabia's Col. Turki al-Maliki.

It is the latest strike by Houthi fighters who are engaged in a war with Saudi-backed forces in the country, where Riyadh has launched an extensive air campaign against the Yemeni rebel group.

The Houthis took over the Yemeni capital in September 2014, forcing the government to flee south.

A large-scale war between the Houthis are their allies against the Saudi-backed coalition has left at least 10,000 dead.

In southern Yemen, an Emirati soldier was killed earlier this week with his body repatriated to the UAE on Friday.

Corporal Saeed Matar al-Kaabi is one of around 100 Emirati soldiers to die in Yemen, where the UAE is backing the internationally-recognised government.

Critics accuse the UAE of supporting southern separatists and taking part in the annexation of vital infrastructure in Aden and other areas.