Saudi-led coalition thwarts Houthi missile and drone attack

Attacks on the kingdom from Houthi rebels continue

Saudi Defence Ministry spokesman Col Turki Al Malki. EPA

The Saudi-led coalition said late on Thursday that it thwarted and destroyed four Houthi drones packed with explosives and a ballistic rocket fired in the direction of the southern Saudi city of Jazan.

A statement shared with the Saudi Press Agency said the kingdom takes "operational measures to protect civilians and civilian objects in accordance with international humanitarian law".

There was no immediate claim of responsibility by the Iran-backed Houthi group, but Saudi authorities often intercept drones and missiles aimed at the kingdom's military and oil assets from across the border in Yemen. On August 31, eight people were injured when an explosives-laden drone struck Abha International airport, in an attack the Arab coalition said “constitutes a war crime”.

The attempted attack on Thursday came just days after UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg visited Riyadh to discuss solutions for a lasting peace in Yemen, which has been at war since 2015. A coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened on behalf of Yemeni President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi later that year.