The official Spokesman for the Joint Forces Command, Colonel Turki bin Saleh Al-Malki stressed that on Friday, 8 March 2019, the Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepted successfully and destroyed an Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militia Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), in a flagrant violation towards (Abha) city, pointing out that its debris resulted in injuring (5) civilians including (4) Saudi nationals (3 men and a woman) and (1) Indian expatriate, in addition to (6) damaged vehicles and minor and moderate damage to civilian houses. He indicated that these forces also successfully intercepted an Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militia UAV in the direction towards the city of Khamis Mushait which interception resulted in no damage. This came in a regular press conference held by Joint Forces Command of the Coalition at the Armed Officers Club in Riyadh yesterday. Colonel Al-Malki spoke during the conference about noteworthy political, military, humanitarian and relief efforts with regard to the Yemeni crisis during the period March 5-18. He noted that through Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations to neutralize the ballistic capabilities of the Houthi militia, the Coalition positively identified a ballistic-missile launch pad in (Sahar, Sa'dah Governorate.). A targeting operation was carried out against the support team in charge of the launch, and the ballistic-missile launch pad. The (JFC) will continue its efforts to neutralize and destroy such capabilities, adding that we will not allow such advanced capabilities to fall in the hands of terrorist organizations and militias. Colonel Al-Maliki indicated that the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition were able to stop Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militia's targeting the representatives of the legitimate government of the Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC) by an Iran-made UAV. He reviewed the efforts of the (JFC) in support of (Hajoor) tribes by providing necessary support airdrops, a Coalition aircraft was shown conducting an airdrop to the tribes, reaffirming the Coalition's longstanding commitment to protecting Yemenis in all cities and villages of Yemen from the terrorist Houthi militia's violations. Regarding humanitarian operations, Colonel Al-Malki reaffirmed that all (sea, land and air) entry points to the Republic of Yemen are in full operational capacity. Clearances granted by Coalition (JFC) totaled (42,648). These clearances include: o (5,537) sea clearances to vessels headed towards Yemeni ports (12), whether under legitimate government or coup militia's control o (83) vessel-clearances from (5-18 March 2019) to Yemeni ports, (12) to Hodeida port o (14,684) clearances to Yemeni airports (Sana'a, Seiyun, Aden, Al Ghaydah, Ar Riyan, Socotra and Ma'rib aerodrome) o (232) flights carrying (12,153) passengers (5-18 March 2019) o (1,310) land clearances from all entry points, (10) of which were granted from (5-18 March 2019) o (21,153) orders to secure relief-convoy and staffer movements in Yemen, (506) of which were granted from (5-18 March 2019). --More 14:02 LOCAL TIME 11:02 GMT 0003 www.spa.gov.sa/1900887
