Saudi Arabia yesterday shot down a bomb-laden drone deployed by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen to attack an airport in the kingdom, state media reported.

The Saudi air force intercepted and destroyed the drone that targeted Jizan airport, close to the southern border with Yemen, the Riyadh-led coalition fighting the rebels was quoted as saying by the official Saudi Press Agency.

The airport is used by thousands of civilians every day, but the coalition reported no casualties and warned the rebels of a strong response. 

The strike comes after the Houthis on Thursday similarly targeted Najran airport, also near the Yemeni border with an explosives-laden drone. That attack was the third against Najran airport in 72 hours.