Saudi Arabia Says It Intercepted Houthi Drone Near Mecca

Saudi Arabia says its air-defence forces intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement south of Mecca before it could enter the restricted airspace over Islam’s holiest city.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said the drone was intercepted at about 6:50 p.m. local time on Tuesday, September 15, according to coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki. He said the aircraft was destroyed before reaching the prohibited airspace surrounding Mecca.

Al-Malki described the security of Mecca, the two holy mosques and pilgrims as a “red line”, warning that the coalition would take what it called necessary measures to deter further attacks.

Mecca is Islam’s holiest city and the focal point of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The incident prompted a security alert in the city, as well as alerts in Jeddah and Taif. The alert in Mecca was lifted shortly after it was issued.

However, the Houthis have denied that they targeted Mecca or any Islamic holy site. A Houthi military source described the Saudi allegation as misinformation and said the group did not pose a threat to the city or other religious sites.

The Saudi coalition characterised the incident as the second reported Houthi attempt to target Mecca, following a 2017 ballistic-missile incident that Saudi authorities said was directed toward the holy city. The Houthis also denied that the earlier attack was aimed at Mecca.

The latest confrontation comes amid a sharp escalation in fighting involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. The Yemeni group has stepped up attacks on Saudi targets in recent days, while Saudi Arabia has carried out military operations against Houthi positions in Yemen. The escalation has also raised concerns over security around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Red Sea, important routes for international shipping and energy supplies.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has condemned the reported attack, while Saudi officials have warned that further threats to the kingdom’s holy sites could trigger additional military action.

The circumstances surrounding the drone’s launch and intended target have not been independently established. At present, the claim that the drone was specifically aimed at Mecca remains disputed, with Saudi authorities making the allegation and the Houthis rejecting it.