RIYADH — The Saudi-led Arab Coalition announced Saturday night that its forces had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia towards civilian targets in the Saudi city of Khamis Mushait.

In a press statement aired by the Saudi Press Agency, the coalition condemned the repeated Houthi attempts to attack civilian targets in the Kingdom and vowed to take all operational measures to protect civilians and deal with any threat.

Earlier, the coalition stated that its forces had intercepted and destroyed four explosive-laden drones fired by the Iran-backed Houthis towards the southern region of Saudi Arabia.

The Arab Coalition stressed that the Houthi militia is deliberately targeting civilians and civilian objects and will act to thwart these actions and defend the civilians.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Dr. Yousef Bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen has strongly condemned the terrorist Houthi militia's launching of two ballistic missiles and bomb-laden UAVs towards civilians and civilian objects in the southern region of Saudi Arabia, according to the Coalition’s announcement Saturday.

In a statement issued Sunday, Dr. Al-Othaimeen praised the vigilance and capabilities of the Saudi air defense forces that intercepted and destroyed the ballistic missiles and bomb-laden UAVs before reaching their targets.

The secretary general reiterated OIC’s support for all measures being taken by the Coalition Forces to protect civilians and civilian objects and combat the terrorist Houthi militia’s acts, in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary norms. He considered the Houthi militia's escalation as war crimes and blatant challenge to the international community.

Dr. Al-Othaimeen stressed the OIC’s stand and solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in addressing the terrorist crimes committed by the terrorist Houthi militia, supporting all measures taken by Saudi Arabia to preserve its security, stability and the safety of its citizens and residents. — SPA