RIYADH — The Arab Coalition forces intercepted and destroyed an explosive-laden drone launched by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen toward Saudi Arabia early Thursday.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the official spokesman of the Coalition forces Col. Turki Al-Maliki said: “The Coalition forces have intercepted and destroyed this morning (Thursday) an explosive-laden UAV launched by the terrorist Houthi militia to deliberately target civilians and civilian facilities in Najran.”

This is for the third consecutive day, the Coalition forces have intercepted and destroyed unmanned armed vehicles (UAV) launched towarad the Kingdom.

Early on Tuesday, the Coalition intercepted and destroyed an armed drone launched by the Houthis, and they stopped another UAV early Wednesday morning launched toward the Southern Region of the Kingdom.

The Houthi militia has stepped up cross-border drone attacks recently in blatant defiance of the international humanitarian law and its customary rules. — SPA