RIYADH – Saudi air defence forces on Monday intercepted two drones launchedby Huthi rebels from neighbouring Yemen, state media reported, as theIran-aligned militia steps up attacks on the kingdom.
The drones targeted Khamis Mushait in the kingdom s south and caused nodamage or casualties, the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said in abrief statement released early Tuesday by the official Saudi Press Agency(SPA).
The rebels said earlier via their news outlet Al-Masirah that they hadtargeted the King Khalid airbase near Khamis Mushait.
The attacks come as SPA reported the coalition was intensifying air raidson Huthi positions in the northern Yemeni province of Hajjah.
The rebels have stepped up drone and missile attacks on the kingdom amidtensions between Shiite power Iran and the United States, Saudi Arabia smain ally.
Last month, the Saudi air force shot down a bomb-laden drone deployed byHuthi rebels that targeted Jizan airport, close to the southern border withYemen, the coalition said.
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The airport is used by thousands of civilians every day, but the coalitionreported no casualties and warned the rebels of a strong response.
The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to push back anadvance by the Huthi rebels, who still hold the capital Sanaa, and torestore to power President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.
Since then, the conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, many ofthem civilians, relief agencies say.
It has triggered what the UN describes as the world s worst humanitariancrisis, with 24.1 million — more than two-thirds of the population — inneed of aid. -APP/AFP
