Downed Houthi drone wounds 12 at Saudi Arabia's Abha airport

At least 12 people were injured after shrapnel from a destroyed drone landed in surrounding area

Passengers enter Abha airport, Saudi Arabia, on August 22, 2019. AP

At least 12 people have been injured by shrapnel from a downed drone attack at Saudi Arabia's Abha airport on Thursday.

Air traffic operations returned to normal after standard safety procedures were carried out, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said.

The injured, who have not been identified, include travellers and workers of various nationalities, it said in two statements carried by state media.

Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed the drone launched towards the airport, the Saudi state-run Ekhbariya channel said.

“We will take firm operational action in response to the threat of targeting civilian airports and travellers,” the coalition said in a tweet.

Houthi attacks have become increasingly common, with air defence teams intercepting rockets and drones on an almost daily basis.

The Houthis also often target Abha airport, which lies close to the Yemeni border in Saudi Arabia's south. Most are intercepted but a few people have been killed and several injured.

The Houthi drone and missile programme has, since the war began in 2015, become increasingly sophisticated. Experts and officials say the Yemeni rebels have been aided by Iran and its main proxy Hezbollah.