Saudi-led coalition intercepts 8 Houthi drones launched from Sanaa airport

Airport in Yemen has been used as a central point for Houthi operations, Saudi Arabia says

Coalition forces have destroyed at least three drones aimed towards the southern areas of Saudi Arabia. Photo: Saudi-led coalition

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen has said it intercepted eight drones launched by the Iran-supported Houthi rebels out of Sanaa International Airport.

“We have observed and are following a hostile escalation via the use of drones by the Houthis. A number of explosive drones were launched from Sanaa International Airport,” the coalition said on its official Twitter account.

The coalition said it intercepted and destroyed the drones launched by the rebels towards the southern areas of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has previously said that the airport was being used by the Houthis as a launching point for attacks. In December, the Saudi Arabian Air Force conducted precision strikes on buildings around the airport, which were assessed as housing Houthi military equipment.

"The operation comes in response to threats and the use of the airport’s facilities to launch cross-border attacks," the coalition said at the time.

"Destroying these targets will not have any effect on the operational capacity of the airport, and will not affect managing the airspace, the air traffic, and ground handling operations," it added.

In pictures: wreckage of Houthi drones

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  An Iranian-built Qasef-1 drone used by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

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  A shot down drone on display. All photos by Victor Besa / The National

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  The remains of a Houthi drone intercepted by the Saudi Arabian Air Force. @SPAregions

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  The engine of a Qasef-1 drone shot down by Arab Coalition forces in Yemen.

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  A drone used by Houthi rebels to launch attacks on Saudi Arabia. AP

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  An IED built with Iranian components and camouflaged as a cooking pot recovered by Arab Coalition forces in Yemen.

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  An Iranian-supplied STEYR .50 Calibre sniper riffle being used by the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

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  Two anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM). The one on the right is a Russian-made Kornet, and on the left is an Iranian imitation. Markings show they were built in 2015 indicating they were smuggled to Yemen after the UN arms embargo.

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  IEDs camouflaged inside a fake rock. Arab Coalition officials estimate they have defused up to 30,000 such devices since the war began.

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  Farsi language was found enscribed on the wiring of this drone battery from a Qasef-1 UAV indicating its Iranian origins.

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  Limpet mines.

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  Electronics of an IED.

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  Remains of Houthi drone which the coalition shot down. @SPAregions

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  Weapons supplied by Iran to the Houthi militias in Yemen were put on display at a press conference by the Saudi-led Arab coalition. Victor Besa / The National