• Arab coalition says Houthis intended ‘to target civilians in a systematic and deliberate manner’

RIYADH: Arab coalition forces on Wednesday intercepted and destroyed two drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia toward Saudi Arabia.

Coalition spokesman Col. Turki Al-Maliki said a “booby-trapped” drone was launched from Yemeni airspace by the Iran-backed Houthis was intended “to target civilian objects and civilians in a systematic and deliberate manner.”

Earlier on Wednesday, coalition forces intercepted another drone launched by the Houthis toward Khamis Mushait in the southern region.

Col. Al-Maliki said: “Attempts by the Houthi militia to attack civilians constitute war crimes,” adding that the joint coalition forces are taking the “necessary operational measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules.”

Last week, a drone attack on the Kingdom’s Abha airport drew international condemnation after it caused a passenger plane to catch fire.