Saudi Arabia Shoots Down Houthi Drone Near Mecca, Issues Strong Warning

Riyadh,

Saudi Arabia says its air defense system intercepted a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement toward Mecca before it could enter the holy city’s restricted airspace. Brigadier General Turki al-Malki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, said the drone was intercepted around 6:50 p.m. on September 15, south of Mecca, with debris falling in that area.

Al-Malki called it the second Houthi attempt to target Mecca, noting a previous incident on July 27, 2017, involving a ballistic missile. He said the safety of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims remains a “red line” for Saudi Arabia. The Houthis, however, denied targeting Mecca or any other holy site, with political office member Hazem al-Asad rejecting the Saudi account.

Brief emergency alerts were issued in Mecca, Jeddah and Taif following the incident — the first such alert for Mecca during the current regional war — before being lifted once the threat passed. A day earlier, Houthi missile and drone strikes wounded 13 civilians in Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif. The incident comes amid rising tensions in Yemen and increased Houthi activity in the Red Sea, a critical global shipping route. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the incident and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia.