Saudi forces destroy armed drones launched towards Abha and Jazan airports

Saudi Arabian forces destroyed several armed drones launched towards the southern part of the kingdom on Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said it destroyed a drone that “tried to target civilians at King Abdullah Airport in Jazan”.

“The drone took off from Sana’a International Airport to target civilians,” the coalition said.

The coalition also said that Saudi forces destroyed Houthi drones that were launched toward Abha International Airport and Khamis Mushait.

فيديو | التحالف: الدفاعات الجوية تدمر طائرة مسيرة أطلقت من مطار صنعاء باتجاه خميس مشيط #الإخبارية pic.twitter.com/ZjSgIotvzw

— قناة الإخبارية (@alekhbariyatv) December 19, 2021

The coalition later said that it carried out airstrikes on “legitimate military targets” in Sana’a.

“We have taken precautionary measures to spare civilians and civilian objects from collateral damage,” it said.

#عاجل#التحالف: اتخذنا إجراءات وقائية لتجنيب المدنيين والأعيان المدنية الأضرار الجانبية.#واس_عام

— واس العام (@SPAregions) December 19, 2021

The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) condemned the attacks on the kingdom, saying they “reflect blatant disregard for the international community and all international laws and norms”, official news agency WAM reported.

MoFAIC urged the international community to take an “immediate and decisive stance to stop these recurrent acts, which target critical infrastructure and threaten the security and stability of the kingdom, as well as global energy supplies”.

In the statement, the UAE renewed its full solidarity with Saudi and reiterated its support for all measures taken by Saudi authorities to maintain the safety and security of its citizens and residents.