RIYADH: Saudi air defenses destroyed three drones launched toward the Kingdom’s southwestern city of Najran, the Arab coalition said on Sunday.
The coalition said it had monitored the launch of the drones from the capital Sanaa and that it would take operational measures to deal with the sources of the threat.
Meanwhile, the UAE on Sunday strongly condemned attempts by Yemen’s Houthi militia to target southern Saudi Arabia a day earlier.
The coalition intercepted and destroyed three drones that were launched toward the Kingdom's southern region on Saturday, and said that in response, it was conducting intelligence surveillance in preparation for air strikes.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement that the country “considers this targeting a dangerous escalation and a cowardly act that threatens the security, safety and lives of civilians, and calls for taking all necessary measures to protect civilians from Houthi threats.”
The statement said that the security of the UAE and Saudi Arabia are indivisible, and “any threat or danger facing the Kingdom is considered by the UAE as a threat to its security and stability system.”
Bahrain also denounced the attacks and praised the vigilance and efficiency of the coalition forces, which were able to intercept and destroy the aircraft.
Manama said that the terrorist acts carried out by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in a systematic and deliberate manner constitute a blatant attack on the Kingdom’s sovereignty, stability and territorial integrity.
Kuwait said the continuation of these aggressive practices and the escalation in targeting civilians, civilian areas, the security of the Kingdom, and regional stability constitutes a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law and requires the international community to act quickly and decisively to deter these threats and hold the perpetrators accountable.
Egypt and Jordan also issued similar statements strongly condemning the attacks and all the countries reiterated their full solidarity with the Kingdom and their support for all the measures it takes to maintain its security and stability.