SANAA, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels said they launched drone strikes on a Saudi military base in the country's southwestern border province of Asir on Saturday, Houthi-controlled state Saba news agency reported.

"The airstrikes of the drone Kasif-1 hit King Khaled military base in Khamis Mushait City of Asir Province," Houthis said in a statement.

"The attack came to revenge the Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on the Yemeni civilians," it added.

Last month, Iran-backed Houthis said their drone attacked the international airport of Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which, however, denied such claim.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been leading an Arab military coalition against Houthis in support of Yemen's internationally recognized President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi over the last three years.

The coalition forces launched a major assault on June 13 to retake the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah from the Houthis.

The Houthi fighters seized control of much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, in September 2014, forcing Hadi and his government into exile in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia.