Saudi air defenses intercept five drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia toward Jazan

Spokesman of the Arab coalition Col. Turki Al-Maliki talks during an interview with AFP in the capital Riyadh. (File/AFP)

• Arab coalition says it is taking operational measures to protect civilians and deal with the imminent threat
• The OIC, UAE and Bahrain strongly condemned the attacks

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s air defenses on Wednesday intercepted and destroyed five explosive-laden drones launched by Yemen’s Houthis toward the Kingdom’s southern region, state TV reported.
The Arab coalition said one of the drones was targeting the province of Jazan, adding that the Iran-backed militia continues its attempts to deliberately target civilians and civilian objects in Saudi Arabia.
A few hours later, the coalition said four more drones were intercepted without specifying their intended target. 
“We are taking operational measures to protect civilians and deal with the imminent threat,” the coalition added.
On Tuesday, Saudi air defenses intercepted a booby-trapped drone launched by the Houthis toward the southern city of Khamis Mushait.
And on Saturday, the coalition said the Kingdom’s air force had intercepted and destroyed 17 explosive-laden drones launched by the Houthi militia toward Saudi Arabia’s southern region within 24 hours.
“The interception was successfully carried out in Yemeni airspace, and the hostile attempt was repelled,” Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday, citing the coalition.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the attacks, and Secretary-General Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen said the militia’s continued launching of explosive-laden drones toward innocent civilians in the Kingdom is considered “war crimes.”
The UAE and Bahrain also denounced the attacks, saying they stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom against every threat to its security and stability and support all measures it takes to preserve its security and the safety of its citizens and residents on its lands.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said “the continuation of these terrorist attacks by the Houthi militia reflects its blatant defiance of the international community and its disregard for all international laws and norms,” urging the international community to take an immediate and decisive position to stop these repeated actions targeting vital and civilian installations, the Kingdom’s security, energy supplies and global economic stability.
The ministry said in a statement that the continuation of these attacks in recent times is a dangerous escalation and new evidence of the militia’s efforts to undermine security and stability in the region.
The Houthis have stepped up cross-border attacks on southern Saudi Arabia since the start of the year with drones and missiles, and sometimes major cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, in what the coalition has said are “deliberate and systematic hostile attempts” which constitute war crimes.