Yemen's Houthis slam US charges that Iran is arming them

A Houthi spokesperson tweeted late on Friday that Washington is "fabricating lies" to escape the repercussions of its recent decision to recognise the contested city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

17 December, 2017

More than 10,000 people have died since the Saudi-led coalition began their Yemen intervention [AFP]

A Yemeni rebel spokesman has heavily criticised US charges that Iran is funnelling missiles to the Houthi rebels.

Mohammed Abdel Salam tweeted late on Friday that Washington is "fabricating lies" to escape the repercussions of its recent decision to recognise the contested city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a move that triggered protests in the Arab and Muslim world including in war-torn Yemen.

The US said on Thursday that it has "undeniable" evidence that Tehran is violating international law and unveiled segments of missiles launched at Saudi Arabia from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen.

The parts, US officials say, bear markings showing they originated in Iran.

Iran denies arming the Houthis.

More than 10,000 people have died since the Saudi-led coalition launched its war on the rebels in March 2015.

US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Thursday that a missile fired by Houthi militants at Saudi Arabia last month had been made in Iran.

"It was made in Iran then sent to Houthi militants in Yemen," Haley said of the missile.

"From there it was fired at a civilian airport with the potential to kill hundreds of innocent civilians in Saudi Arabia."

Haley made the comments during a news conference in Washington to highlight the findings as well as draw attention to Iran's "destabilising activities in the Middle East region and elsewhere in the world".