The Saudi-led Arab coalition refuted on Monday claims made by the United Nations on child recruitment in war-torn Yemen. Alliance spokesman Colonel Turki al-Maliki asserted that the Iran-backed Houthi militias were resorting to the recruitment of children for their war effort from ages as young as 8. Addressing political efforts, he said that UN special envoy Martin Griffiths’ mission to find a political solution to the conflict was ongoing. He also highlighted the European Union’s stance that underlined Iran’s meddling in Yemen and condemned the Houthis’ firing of ballistic missiles towards Saudi Arabia. On humanitarian efforts, Maliki said that 22 relief corridors were open in Yemen to ensure that necessary aid is delivered to those in need. More than 26,000 land, air and sea aid permits have been granted so far. The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has also sent 25 aid trucks to Yemen, Maliki added. He stressed that this relief is distributed in all Yemeni territories without discrimination. Some 5 million people have benefitted from its aid efforts. He then gave a briefing of the military advances the legitimacy forces, backed by the Arab coalition, were achieving on the field against the militias on various fronts.