RIYADH — The Arab Coalition said it shot down early Friday an explosives-laden unmanned aerial vehicle launched by the Iran-backed Houthi militia.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the coalition spokesman Brig. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said the coalition forces intercepted and destroyed the armed drone launched by the Houthi militia targeting southern Saudi Arabia.

“The Joint Coalition Forces have intercepted and destroyed this morning (Friday) a bomb-laden UAV launched systematically and deliberately by the terrorist Houthi militia to target civilians and civilian objects in the southern region,” Al-Maliki said.

Recently, the Houthi militia has stepped up drone and missile attacks, targeting civilian areas in the Kingdom. — SG