The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said Sunday it had intercepted and destroyed an explosive-laden drone fired by Houthis towards Saudi Arabia.

A brief statement said the coalition air defences shot down an unmanned explosive-laden drone fired towards the southwestern Saudi city of Khamis Mushait, according to the official Saudi news agency SPA.

The coalition "is taking operational procedures to protect civilians and civilian areas in accordance with international humanitarian law," the statement said.

Houthi spokesman Yaha Saree, for his part, said the drone attack targeted the King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, saying the attack was "part of the legitimate response to the continued aggression and blockade on Yemen."

The Houthi group regularly announces missile and drone attacks on Saudi territories, saying they are a response to the Saudi-led coalition's airstrikes on Yemen.

On Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition announced intercepting an explosives-laden drone fired by Houthis towards Khamis Mushait.

Yemen has been wracked by violence and instability since 2014, when Houthis took over much of the country, including the capital Sanaa.

-Agencies

-File photo