Saudi Arabia has said it intercepted and destroyed a drone near Mecca, accusing Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels of attempting to target the holy city.
The Houthis, however, have denied the allegation, insisting that their recent attacks were directed at Saudi military installations and oil facilities located far from Mecca.
The conflicting claims have added to tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, with Riyadh warning that any attempt to threaten Mecca or other Islamic holy sites would cross a major “red line.”
What happened near Mecca?
Saudi coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said the drone was detected and destroyed before it could enter the restricted airspace over Mecca.
However, Saudi authorities have not disclosed exactly how close the drone came to the city or provided details about where it was launched from.
Al-Maliki accused the Houthis of deliberately attempting to target Mecca and described the incident as the first reported attempt against the city in nearly a decade.
He also warned that Saudi Arabia would take what he described as “necessary and deterrent measures” against the group.
Houthis deny targeting Mecca
The Houthis have rejected Saudi Arabia’s version of events.
Their military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said the group’s attacks were aimed at Saudi oil facilities and military bases located “far removed from the holy places.”
Saree described the Saudi allegation as false and insisted that Yemen posed no threat to Islamic holy sites.
He said the claims about an attempted attack on Mecca were intended to mislead the public.
With both sides giving different accounts, it remains unclear whether the drone was specifically intended to strike Mecca or whether it was flying along a route connected to an attack targeting another Saudi facility.
Why is Mecca a ‘red line’?
Mecca holds enormous religious significance for Muslims around the world. It is home to the Kaaba and the Grand Mosque and is regarded as Islam’s holiest city.
Millions of Muslims travel to Mecca each year for Hajj and Umrah, making any security incident in or around the city particularly sensitive.
For Saudi Arabia, the reported drone incident therefore goes beyond the broader conflict with the Houthis. Riyadh has presented any potential threat to Mecca or other Islamic holy sites as a serious matter requiring a strong response.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which represents 57 member states, condemned the reported incident and said attacks that threaten holy sites and civilians are unacceptable.
Pakistan also expressed support for Saudi Arabia following the incident.
A wider Saudi-Houthi confrontation
The reported drone incident comes amid growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.
The Houthis have launched drones and ballistic missiles toward several Saudi locations in recent days, while Saudi authorities have reported injuries among civilians.
The group has also targeted Saudi-linked shipping and infrastructure as the wider regional conflict continues to expand.
The latest dispute over the drone near Mecca could further increase tensions between Riyadh and the Houthis, particularly if Saudi Arabia maintains that the holy city was deliberately targeted
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