World

Saudi Arabia downs explosive-laden drone from Yemen

Yemeni rebels' Al-Masirah TV said the attack targeted a Patriot air defence system

Afp May 23, 2019

File photo of destroyed drone is seen at the news conference in Riyadh. PHOTO: REUTERS

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Thursday shot down a bomb-laden drone deployed by rebels in neighbouring Yemen to attack an airport in the kingdom, the Riyadh-led coalition fighting on the side of Yemen's government said.

"An explosive-laden drone sent by the terrorist Houthi militia to target Najran airport" was intercepted and destroyed by the Saudi air force, coalition spokesperson Colonel Turki al-Maliki was quoted by state media as saying.

The Yemeni rebels' Al-Masirah TV said the attack -- the third against Najran airport in 72 hours -- had targeted a Patriot air defence system.

Maliki said "the rebels attacked a civilian airport" and warned of a "response".

An armed drone sent on Tuesday had hit a weapons depot at the same airport, setting off a blaze, according to Al-Masirah.

Maliki said on Tuesday that the rebels attacked a "civilian installation" in Najran province bordering Yemen with an explosives-laden drone, but did not report casualties.