Coalition destroys Al Houthi UAV, ballistic missile aimed at Saudi Arabia
Steps to ‘neutralise and destroy’ Yemeni rebels’ capabilities amid uptick in attacks
Cairo: The Arab Saudi-led coalition has destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Al Houthis targeting Saudi Arabia as the Iran-allied rebels are stepping up their attacks, a coalition official has said.
Spokesman for the Arab coalition Turki Al Malki said that the alliance forces early Friday intercepted and destroyed an explosive UAV launched by Al Houthis targeting civilians in the kingdom’s southern region.
The forces Thursday evening intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by Al Houthis from the northern Yemeni governorate of Saada in the direction of the city of Khamis Mushait in southern Saudi Arabia.
“The coalition command of the joint forces is taking the necessary measures to neutralise and destroy the qualitative capabilities of the terrorist militia. The wrongdoers and perpetrators of the terrorist attacks will firmly be held accountable in accordance with the international humanitarian law,” Al Malki said, according to the Saudi news agency SPA.
Stepping up attacks
In recent months, Al Houthis have stepped up their cross-the-border attacks on Saudi Arabia. On Wednesday, a civilian plane caught fire due to an Al Houthi attack targeting the Saudi Abha airport.
Last week, US President Joe Biden last week called for an end to the war in Yemen through a political solution. Biden also named Timothy Lenderking, a veteran diplomat, as the US special envoy for Yemen’s peace.
Both Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government welcomed Biden’s moves.
Al Houthis plunged Yemen into a devastating war in late 2014 when they unseated the internationally recognised government and seized parts of the country, including the capital Sana’a.
