Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and human rights activist Tawakkol Karman has condemned the Iran-backed Houthi militia and forces loyal to ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh for firing a missile towards the Holy city of Mecca, explaining that this proves once again that the militia seeks escalation but not peace.  

In a statement posted on social media, Karman stated, "having fired a missile at Mecca, Houthis and Saleh provided a further evidence that they are looking for escalation rather than peace."

"Houthis have claimed that they targeted the city of Jeddah but not Mecca. This is an excuse, which is more grotesque than action. I condemn targeting of cities either in Yemen or Saudi Arabia as it is a kind of crime against humanity,” she continued. 

“The only safe road to build a sustainable peace process in Yemen, and this is what we will keep working for, begins with undoing all actions taken after the coup and returning to what Yemenis have already agreed upon”, Mrs. Karman said with emphasis. 

Saudi-led Arab coalition accused on Thursday Yemen's Houthi rebels of firing missile towards Mecca and that the missile was intercepted and destroyed about 65km from Mecca, home to some of Islam's most sacred sites.