Diana Shalhub
19 June 2021•Update: 19 June 2021
ISTANBUL
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said Saturday it had destroyed seven explosive-laden drones fired by Houthi rebels towards Saudi Arabia.
A coalition statement cited by the Saudi Al-Ikhbariya television said that the drones were fired towards the kingdom, but were shot down inside the Yemeni territories.
“The hostile and systematic Houthi attempts constitute war crimes,” the coalition said, adding that it has taken “operational procedures to protect civilians” from Houthi attacks.
There was no comment from the Houthis on the coalition statement.
The new attacks came hours after the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed a rebel drone fired towards the southwestern city of Khamis Mushait in Saudi Arabia.
Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, regularly announce rocket and drone attacks on Saudi territories, saying they are a reaction to the Saudi-led coalition’s assault on Yemen.
Yemen has been ravaged by violence and instability since 2014, when the Houthi group captured much of the country, including the capital Sanaa.
The crisis escalated in 2015 when the Saudi-led coalition launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi territorial gains. It has since caused one of the world’s worst man-made humanitarian crises, with 80% of the population in need of assistance and protection.
*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara
