Saudi-led coalition claims downing of Houthi drones

The Saudi-led coalition announced early on Saturday that it had intercepted and destroyed a drone over Saudi Arabia's oil-rich Eastern Region, according to a report by Reuters.

The attack comes as tensions escalate between the coalition and Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, who have been launching cross-border strikes into Saudi territory.

The Eastern Region, home to most of Saudi Arabia's oil and gas reserves, has faced multiple Houthi attacks in recent weeks, including damage to the headquarters of Saudi Aramco in October.

The coalition also claimed to have intercepted another drone launched by the Houthis toward the Southern Region, though the group denied any such attack on Friday.

Medina, a major religious site, was the target of a drone attack on Friday, which the coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed, but the Hou and the Houthis rejected the claim.

The Houthis have consistently denied targeting Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities in Islam, and have dismissed Saudi accusations of attacks on these sites.