The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen announced on Wednesday that its defences intercepted an explosive-laden drone, adding that it injured four workers at the airport and shattered the glass of some facades.

In its statement, the ministry also reiterated Egypt’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the face of such attacks that target civilians.

“The Egyptian government and people affirm their support and solidarity with the sisterly Saudi Arabia to face the continuous cowardly terrorist attacks by Houthi militias,” the ministry said in a statement.

It warned that the continuation of such attacks against innocent civilians in the kingdom constitutes a “flagrant violation of the rules of international law.”

These attacks also threaten the security and safety of civil aviation, air navigation, and stability in the region, according to the ministry.

The ministry affirmed Egypt’s support for the measures Saudi Arabia takes to protect the security, stability, and safety of its citizens and residents against these ongoing hostilities.

Saudi Arabia has been intercepting hundreds of drones and missiles launched by the Iran-backed Houthis over the past few years since the coalition intervened militarily in Yemen in 2015 to support the internationally recognised government.

Saudi Arabia and Iran started in September the first round of direct talks with the new Iranian government to reduce tensions, especially as their diplomatic ties have been cut since 2016.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan confirmed on Sunday that his government held its first round of direct talks with Iran’s new government last month, a part of a process that began earlier this year to reduce tensions.

This follows three rounds of direct talks hosted by Iraq in the period before Iran’s new President Ebrahim Raisi assumed the post last August.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told a news conference in Beirut on Thursday that talks between the two rivals have gone a “good distance,” according to Reuters.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz expressed hope in September that the Saudi Iranian talks will lead to confidence building as he addressed world leaders during the 76th UN General Assembly.

Egypt has repeatedly expressed its full support for the coalition against the Houthi attacks, saying the movement’s practices further inflame the situation in Yemen.

The Houthis have rejected calls for a truce by the United Nations, the United States, and Saudi Arabia this year.