16 injured as Saudi air defense intercepts drone from Yemen

By Aziz al-Ahmadi

SANAA, Yemen (AA) – Sixteen civilians were wounded when Saudi air defense intercepted a drone fired from Yemen towards Saudi Arabia, the Saudi-led coalition said Monday.

A coalition statement cited by the Saudi state news agency SPA said the drone was launched towards King Abdullah Airport in the southwestern Jizan province.

According to the statement, victims suffered injuries from shrapnel during the drone interception.

The coalition said the drone was fired “from Sanaa International Airport to target civilians."

Earlier on Monday, the coalition said it had destroyed a booby-trapped drone fired from Yemen.

The Saudi-led coalition has been fighting Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen since 2015, one year after the rebels overran much of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa.

The eight-year conflict has created one of the world's worst man-made humanitarian crises, with nearly 80% of the country, or about 30 million people, in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, according to UN estimates.