RIYADH — The Arab Coalition forces intercepted and destroyed early Thursday an explosive-laden drone launched by the Iran-backed Houthi militia, targeting civilian areas in Khamis Mushait. In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the official spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, Brig. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said: “The coalition forces have intercepted and destroyed this morning (Thursday) a bomb-laden UAV launched systematically and deliberately by the terrorist Houthi militia to target civilians and civilian objects in Khamis Mushait.” “The coalition will continue to implement all necessary operational procedures to safeguard civilians and civilian facilities in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules, the spokesman added. The Houthi militia has recently stepped up attacks, targeting civilians and civilian facilities in a number of Saudi cities and regions.