Saudi Arabia shot down a drone fired by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Thursday towards the south-western Saudi city of Khamis Mushait.
The unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed before they could reach their targets, said Col Turki Al Malki, spokesman for the Arab Coalition fighting in Yemen to support of the internationally recognised government of President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi.
“The drone was launched from Yemen’s rebel-held capital, Sanaa, in an attempt to target civilians,” Col Al Malki said.
The Saudi colonel denied Houthi-led media reports that the group has attacked sites near the King Khalid airbase.
"Their lies reflects the group's desperate attempts," he said.
The coalition will continue to take “strict measures against the rebels to minimize their capabilities and address the terrorist acts," he said.
"The attempts to target civilians who are protected under international humanitarian law proves the criminal ideologies," he said.
Thursday's incident is just the latest in dozens of such attacks in recent months against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Iran and the West.
It is the second attempt by the rebels to target the Kingdom's southwestern region this week. Several drones were fired on Tuesday towards the southwest province of Asser, which is near the Yemen border.
A Houthi bomb-laden drone killed one person and wounded nine others when it hit Abha airport last month.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are leading the Arab Coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government, which was pushed out of the capital Sanaa by the Houthis in late 2014.
Last week, the UN special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, expressed concern about the attacks during his briefing to the Security Council.
"I am particularly alarmed by the continued attacks by the Houthis on civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia," Mr Griffiths said.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
Torque: 500Nm
Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)
On sale: 2022
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
