Arab coalition intercepts Houthi drone over Yemen

By Hussein Mahmoud Ragab Elkabany and Cagri Kosak

RIYADH (AA) - The Saudi-led Arab coalition has intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, a coalition spokesperson said on Saturday.

The Spokesman Col. Turki al-Maliki said in a written statement that the drone launched from Yemen’s capital Sanaa was downed, over Yemen airspace by the coalition forces.

Denying Houthi claims that they hit targets, Al-Maliki said the drone were neutralized, before they could enter the Saudi Arabian airspace.

The Houthis had claimed that they targeted Saudi airports in Abha and Jizan with Qasef-2K drones.

Yahia Sarie, spokesperson for the Houthi forces, said the attacks resulted in the suspension of air traffic in both airports.

Al-Maliki charged that the Houthis are targeting civilians consistently and desperately. He vowed that coalition forces will prevent these attacks.

Earlier in the day, the Houthis announced that they hit Abha and Jazan airports with drones.

Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition against the Houthi rebel group, which overran much of Yemen -- including capital Sanaa – a year earlier.

The Houthis have increasingly used drones to target southern Saudi Arabia. Recently two drones hit the Abha airport, which killed one person and wounded more than 30.