Riyadh, Aden-Rebels dealt with Thursday’s truce in Yemen in the same way they did with previous ceasefires by not respecting a U.N. decision to halt fighting for 72 hours in the country.

Yemeni army spokesperson Brigadier Samir Al Haj told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Three minutes after the ceasefire went into effect, Houthi militias started firing on Usailan in Bihan. And five minutes later, they pounded Taiz, then the rest of the fronts. So now, we can say the insurgents have committed violations on several fronts.”

In Jazan that lies south of Saudi Arabia, a Yemeni child was injured when Houthis launched a shell at the province of Al Samita. The Civil Defense said that the shell was launched from inside the Yemeni territories on Thursday at 9:30 am.

Speaking from Washington late on Wednesday after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said his country has the right to protect its borders from any attacks.

The Saudi “Alekhbariya” channel quoted Kerry as saying: “Saudi Arabia has a right to be free from missiles being launched from Yemen, and Houthis should respect the ceasefire.”

Meanwhile, U.S., and Western officials told Reuters that Iran has stepped up weapons transfers to the Houthis.

It said much of the recent smuggling activity has been through Oman, which neighbors Yemen, including via overland routes that take advantage of porous borders between the two countries, the officials said.

A senior U.S. administration official said that Washington had informed Oman of its concerns, without specifying when.

The official said: “We have been concerned about the recent flow of weapons from Iran into Yemen and have conveyed those concerns to those who maintain relations with the Houthis, including the Omani government.”

However, Oman’s Foreign Ministry denied any weapons smuggling across its border.