US to present evidence Iran is providing Houthis with missiles

Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, will present components of a short-range ballistic missile Houthi rebels fired into Saudi Arabia

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks in the Security Council at United Nations headquarters, Friday, Dec. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
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The Trump administration will present what it claims is evidence that Iran is arming Houthi rebels in Yemen with missiles, four US officials told an American news outlet.

Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, will display components of a short-range ballistic missile the Houthi rebels fired into Saudi Arabia at the Defence Intelligence Agency headquarters at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, the officials told NBC news.

A senior intelligence official said Ms Haley will also present what the US says is evidence that Iran is violating UN sanctions elsewhere.

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Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired a missile last month from Yemen, which was shot down by a Saudi surface-to-air missile near Riyadh airport.

The US backed Saudi Arabia’s statements that Tehran supplied the rebels with the ballistic missile on November 4. France’s president Emmanuel Macron also described the missile as “obviously” Iranian.

On Sunday, UN officials said that missiles fired at Saudi Arabia appeared to have a "common origin" according to a confidential report.

Officials travelled to Saudi Arabia to examine the debris of missiles fired on November 4 and on July 22.

However, the report stressed that investigations were still ongoing and findings would be reported back to the security council. Iran has denied supplying the Houthis with missiles.

A Saudi-led coalition, which backs the internationally-recognised Yemeni government, has been fighting alongside Yemeni forces against the Houthi militia for more than two years.

Saudi Arabia's crown prince has previously said Iran’s supply of missiles could be considered an act of war.