RIYADH — The Arab Coalition said it intercepted and destroyed early Saturday an explosive-laden drone targeting the southern region of Saudi Arabia.

In a statement carried by Saudi Press Agency, the coalition spokesman Col. Turki Al-Maliki said: “The Joint Coalition Forces have intercepted and destroyed this morning (Saturday) a bomb-laden drone launched systematically and deliberately by the terrorist Houthi militia to target civilians and civilian objects in the southern region.”

On Thursday, the coalition said it intercepted and destroyed five armed drones launched within 24 hours while it destroyed two explosive-laden boats south of the Red Sea launched by the Houthi militia on Wednesday.

In the last few months, the Houthi militia has stepped up drone and missile attacks targeting civilian areas in the Kingdom. — SG