Saudi forces intercept armed drone launched towards Najran airport

Saudi Arabia’s air defence forces intercepted a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthis towards the Najran airport, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported late on Sunday.

While the drone was destroyed, shrapnel and fragments fell across the residential neighbourhood of Al-Araysah, the coalition said.

No civilian casualties were reported.

Officials said that the drone was launched from Sana’a International Airport with the purpose of carrying out a “cross-border” attack.

“The Houthi violations offend the policy of restraint and efforts for a political solution, and deterrence options are now on the table,” the coalition said.

#عاجل #التحالف: المسيّرة انطلقت من مطار صنعاء الدولي؛ لتنفيذ الهجوم العابر للحدود. #واس_عام

— واس العام (@SPAregions) November 21, 2021

The attack has been condemned by Bahrain with the country’s Foreign Ministry denouncing the “systematic and deliberate attack on civil objects and civilians in the kingdom, flagrantly violating international humanitarian law”.

The ministry also affirmed Bahrain’s full support to Saudi Arabia in its efforts to “confront such terrorist attacks”.

Saudi Arabia has faced numerous Houthi attacks in recent months, with the southern part of the country a primary target.

The Abha International Airport in particular has seen numerous drone attacks.

Last month, falling debris from a drone shattered the glass of some of the windows at the airport, injuring four workers.

On August 31, a drone attack on the airport injured eight people and damaged an Airbus 320 civilian aircraft.