Saudi Arabia has warned Yemen’s Houthi rebels that the security of Mecca and the Islamic holy sites is a “red line” after its air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone south of the city.
The Saudi-led coalition said the drone was intercepted on Tuesday evening before it could enter Mecca’s restricted airspace. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki attributed the launch to the Houthis and said Saudi forces would take deterrent measures against further attacks.
The Houthis, however, have rejected the allegation, describing Saudi Arabia’s claim that they targeted Mecca as false. Houthi political official Hazem al-Assad said the accusation was being repeated despite the group denying responsibility for the incident.
The development has heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthis as fighting in Yemen has intensified and the conflict has increasingly affected the Red Sea and surrounding shipping routes.
Saudi authorities said the drone was destroyed south of Mecca before entering the prohibited airspace around the holy city. Al-Malki described the incident as the second alleged Houthi attempt to target Mecca, referring to a ballistic missile incident in 2017 that Saudi authorities previously attributed to the group.
Mecca is Islam’s holiest city and attracts millions of Muslims for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, as well as year-round worship. The Saudi-led coalition said protecting the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims remains a priority.
Saudi Arabia had also issued security alerts covering Mecca and other areas following a series of attacks attributed to the Houthis. The latest incident has therefore added another layer to an already escalating confrontation between Riyadh and the group.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which represents 57 Muslim-majority countries, condemned what it described as attacks against Mecca and the wider Madinah region.
The dispute comes as the Houthis have expanded their military activity around Yemen’s western coastline and the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. The waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is an important route for international shipping.
The wider conflict has also raised concerns over energy supplies and maritime trade as fighting disrupts other major shipping routes in the region. Saudi Arabia and Egypt have called for the continued security and freedom of navigation through key waterways, including the Bab al-Mandab and Strait of Hormuz.