Mecca Put on High Security Alert Following Drone Interception, Houthis Deny Targeting Holy City
Saudi air defenses destroy an incoming drone south of Mecca before it enters restricted airspace, while Houthi officials dismiss the allegations as completely unfounded.
Saudi Arabian defense forces intercepted and destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle south of Mecca, prompting authorities to briefly issue a high level security alert across the region including Mecca, Jeddah, and Taif governorates.
According to Major General Turki Al Malki, spokesperson for the Coalition Forces to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, the drone was intercepted before entering restricted airspace surrounding the holy city. Describing the security of Mecca as a strict red line, coalition officials emphasized that necessary deterrent measures would be taken to protect civilian areas and religious sites.
Responding to the allegations, Houthi politburo member Hazem Al Assad rejected the Saudi account, stating on social media that claims regarding any attack aimed at Mecca are false and baseless. Houthi officials reiterated that their operations do not target Islamic holy sites, dismissing the reports as misinformation meant to deflect attention from broader regional hostilities.
The incident comes amid a sharp escalation in regional tensions, drawing swift condemnation from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which denounced any attempt to imperil the safety of holy sites and surrounding civilian populations.