on Sunday 7 March, 2021

Arab Coalition intercepts, downs 12 Houthi drones in one day

Colonel Turki al-Malki displays the debris of a Houthi ballistic missile in Riyadh. (File photo: Reuters)
by : Al Arabiya

The Arab Coalition intercepted 12 explosive-laden drones launched by the Iran-backed Houthis towards Saudi Arabia in one day, Colonel Turki al-Maliki said on Sunday.

Two drones were destroyed on Sunday afternoon, the coalition said.

Five armed drones heading towards Saudi Arabia were intercepted after another five Houthi drones had been downed earlier on Sunday morning.

The Iran-backed group’s explosive-laden unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) is the latest in a series of escalated cross-border aerial attacks on Saudi Arabia and areas in Yemen under the internationally-recognized government’s control. The Houthis have been intensifying their attacks on Saudi Arabia and Yemen because coalition forces have made significant advances in Marib, the spokesperson said.

The coalition has been monitoring explosive-laden Houthi drones and has destroyed multiple aircrafts that the group had deliberately launched towards civilians and civilian objects, he added.

“We are working to protect civilians in accordance with international humanitarian laws,” al-Maliki said.

The Houthis launched multiple drones and ballistic missiles towards Riyadh, Jazan, and Khamis Mushait in the Kingdom. At least seven civilians were injured in Houthi attacks this past week, Saudi Arabian authorities said.