Saudi Defenses Thwarted a Hostile Attack against Abha Airport: Joint Forces Command

A Statement by the Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Turki Al-Malki is issued as follows:

“At (1205) Thursday (10 February 2022), Saudi Air Defenses thwarted an attempt to deliberately and systematically target traveling civilians and staff at Abha International Airport by the terrorist, Iran-backed Houthi militia using a bomb-laden drone.”

As a result of the interception, some debris of the bomb-laden drone scattered around the premises of the airport, and caused minor injuries to (12) civilians, Saudi citizens and expats as follows:

(2) Saudi citizens

(4) Bangladeshi expats

(3) Nepali expats

(1) Filipino expat

(1) Sri Lankan expat

(1) Indian expat

In addition to minor material damage as a result of shattered glass facades.

This hostile, atrocious attempt to target Abha International Airport and its multinational traveling civilians today in a deliberate, systematic manner is an act of war. These acts confirm the hostile nature of the militia, and its transgressions against the customary International Humanitarian Law, under which Abha International Airport is considered a Civilian Object protected by the IHL.

The Joint Forces Command in the face of these hostile acts and immoral transgressions by the terrorist, Iran-backed Houthi militia will continue to implement all necessary operational procedures in response to such threats and neutralize the sources of these threats in a manner that protects civilians and civilian objects in accordance to the customary International Humanitarian Law.”