RIYADH, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Saudi-led coalition announced on Saturday the interception of a ballistic missile fired from Yemen in a fresh attack by Houthi militias targeting Saudi border cities.

Colonel Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman of the coalition involved in the war in Yemen from 2015, said in a statement that the attack targeted Najran city on Saturday at 12:38 noon (9:38 GMT).

He confirmed that the air forces detected the missile that was shot from Saada city in Yemen towards Saudi Arabia. It was intercepted and destroyed before reaching its target.

"This hostile action by Iran-supported Houthi group proves the continued involvement of Iran in supporting the Houthi armed group with qualitative capabilities," Col. Al-Malki said, while renewing his call for the international community to take more serious and effective steps to stop what he described as the blatant Iranian violations of continued smuggling and transfer of ballistic missiles and weapons to terrorist groups and outlaws in Yemen.

The cases of intercepted missiles have increased since last month in a clear indication that the war that left thousands of civilians, mainly from Yemen dead has no signs to end soon.