Saudi Arabia: 12 wounded in drone attack blamed on Yemen's Houthi rebels by coalition

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said on Thursday that 12 people were wounded in a drone attack on an airport in the southern Saudi region of Abha near the kingdom's border with Yemen.

It was not immediately clear from the coalition statement whether the people, who included travelers and workers at the airport, were wounded by the drone itself or from fallen debris.

Saudi air defences destroyed the drone, according to the statement, which also alleged it was launched by Houthi rebels inside Yemen early on Thursday afternoon.

Saudi state television and accompanying social media accounts carried video from inside Abha's airport showing operations there running as normal.

Saudi Arabia has been at war in Yemen since 2015 fighting against Iranian-backed Houthis who overran the capital and ousted the government from power. Both the coalition and the Houthis have been accused of perpetrating grave violations by rights groups.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden spoke with Saudi King Salman. The White House said the president and king discussed "Iranian-enabled attacks by the Houthis against civilian targets in Saudi Arabia."

Biden underscored the US' commitment in supporting Saudi Arabia in the defence of its people and territory from such attacks, it added.

The war has killed tens of thousands of people, both fighters and civilians, and spawned the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Charity group Oxfam this week said a year-long battle over the strategic Yemeni city of Marib alone has displaced about 100,000 people.

The fighting in Marib led to increased Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in recent weeks

 The UAE is part of the Saudi-led coalition and backs Yemeni militias fighting the Houthis. US officials have scrambled to reassure its Gulf strategic allies of Washington's defensive support.

The US initially backed the Saudi war effort as the coalition tried to drive the Iranian-backed Houthis from the capital, Sanaa, and restore the previous government to power. President Biden, however, has since tried to distance the US military from involvement in Yemen’s war.

After the Houthis hit the UAE's capital city with threats of more attacks, @anthonyjharwood asks as to whether it's safe anymore for expats and tourists https://t.co/aiD9MaTgMv

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) February 3, 2022

A Saudi readout of the monarch's call with Biden said King Salman discussed the importance of strengthening mutual security cooperation and cited Saudi support for US efforts in preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

The White House says Biden briefed the king on ongoing multilateral talks focused on Iran's nuclear programme.

King Salman stressed the need to work together to counter the destabilising activities of Iran’s proxies in the region, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

The two also discussed their shared commitment to maintaining balance and stability in oil markets as Brent crude hovers around $90 a barrel.