Saudi state TV announced that the Saudi defenses destroyed an explosive drone launched by the Houthis towards Abha International Airport.

The television added that the plane's shrapnel was scattered around the airport without any injuries or losses.

Abha airport is located in southern Saudi Arabia, near the border with Yemen.

Yesterday, the Houthi group said it attacked the Saudi airports of Abha and Jeddah with two drones.

The group’s spokesman, Yahya Saree, said on Twitter, “The Air Force is carrying out an air attack on Jeddah and Abha international airports, and the injury was a minute, which resulted in the two airports being stopped for two consecutive hours.”

For roughly the past nine days, the Houthis have said daily that they have carried out attacks that hit an airport or air base in southern Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that an attack had caused a fire in a civilian plane at Abha airport.

In parallel, the Houthis intensified their attacks to impose a siege on the city of Marib, the last strongholds controlled by forces loyal to the recognized government in the north, in preparation for the attempt to storm it, amid violent battles that left dozens of dead on both sides in the past hours.

At least two military officials in the pro-government forces told Agence France-Presse that the Houthis had pushed in "large numbers" of fighters and launched attacks from several sides on the strategic and oil-rich Marib.

The Houthis are seeking to control Marib before entering into any new talks with the recognized government, especially in light of US President Joe Biden's administration pressure to push for a political solution.

The Houthi takeover of Marib would deal a heavy blow to the government backed by a Saudi-led military coalition since March 2015, as northern Yemen would be completely under their control.