Saudi-led coalition destroys 2 UAVs, missile targeting kingdom

Cairo: A Saudi-led coalition, fighting Iran-aligned Al Houthi rebels, said it had destroyed two bomb-laden unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and a ballistic missile fired in the direction of the kingdom in two separate incidents.

The coalition’s spokesman Col Turki Al Malki said the coalition forces Sunday morning intercepted and destroyed an explosive UAV in the Yemeni airspace launched by Al Houthis in the direction of the kingdom, the Saudi news agency SPA reported.

Al Maliki said Saturday night that the coalition forces had intercepted and destroyed a bomb-laden UAV and a ballistic missile fired by “Iran-supported terrorist Al Houthi militia” in the direction of the kingdom. He did not give further details.

In recent months, Al Houthis have fired dozens of missiles and drones towards neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

Al Houthis plunged Yemen into a civil war in late 2014 when they toppled the internationally recognised government and overran parts of the country including the capital Sana’a.

In 2015, Saudi Arabia and the UAE initiated a military campaign in Yemen against Al Houthis in response to a request from the government there.