RIYADH — Arab Coalition forces intercepted and destroyed on Thursday an explosive-laden drone launched by the Iran-backed Houthi militia targeting Saudi Arabia's southern region. In a statement carried by Saudi Press Agency, the spokesman of the coalition forces Col. Turki Al-Malki said: "The Joint Coalition Forces have intercepted and destroyed this evening on Thursday a bomb-laden UAV launched systematically and deliberately by the terrorist Houthi militia to target civilians and civilian objects in the southern region." The Houthi militia has stepped up cross-border drone attacks recently in blatant defiance of the international humanitarian law and its customary rules. — SPA