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Saudi-led coalition says it downs two Houthi drones

A coalition spokesperson said the Houthis launched two drones in the direction of residential areas in Saudi Arabia.

Missiles and drone aircraft are seen on display at an exhibition at an unidentified location in Yemen in this undated handout photo released by the Houthi Media Office on September 17, 2019. Houthi Media Office/Handout via REUTERS. ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC167A191840
Missiles and drone aircraft are seen on display at an exhibition in an unidentified location in Yemen in this undated handout photo released by the Houthi Media Office on Sept. 17, 2019. — Houthi Media Office/Handout via REUTERS

The Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen shot down two drones June 1 launched by the Houthi rebel group toward residential areas in Saudi Arabia, a spokesperson for the coalition said. 

The two drones were headed toward the southwestern Saudi border town of Khamis Mushait, said coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki, as quoted by Saudi state news agency SPA. 

“The Houthi militia continues to violate the customary international humanitarian law by launching and deliberately targeting civilians and densely populated civilian areas with UAVs (drones), threatening the lives of hundreds of civilians in the process,” Malki said. 

The coalition declared a now-expired unilateral cease-fire in early April, and Maliki said the number of Houthi violations since then has exceeded 5,000. The Houthis did not immediately confirm the alleged June 1 drone attacks. 

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