Mecca drone attack foiled as Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of 450 strikes

Saudi Arabia’s air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it could enter the holy city’s prohibited airspace, a Saudi-led military coalition said, according to Reuters.

The reported interception triggered security alerts in Mecca and other parts of Saudi Arabia, raising fresh concerns over the widening conflict and the potential threat to one of Islam’s holiest sites.

The Houthis, however, denied targeting Mecca. Their military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said the group’s operations were directed at oil facilities and military bases away from Islamic holy sites.

The latest escalation comes as fighting and tensions involving the Iran-aligned Houthi movement spread beyond Yemen, with growing concerns over security in the Red Sea and the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Here are the key developments:

Saudi Arabia says drone was intercepted south of Mecca

Saudi military coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki said Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed the drone before it entered prohibited airspace in Mecca.

He described the incident as the second reported Houthi attempt to target Mecca, referring to a ballistic missile launch reported in July 2017.

Al-Malki said the coalition would take necessary deterrent measures against the Houthis.

Houthis deny targeting Mecca and accuse Saudi Arabia of 450 strikes

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree rejected Saudi Arabia’s account, saying the group had not targeted Mecca or any other Islamic holy site.

In a post on X, Saree claimed Saudi warplanes carried out 52 airstrikes in Yemen over a 24-hour period and more than 450 strikes across seven provinces during the past week.

He alleged that F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets operating from Khamis Mushait and Taif airbases were involved in the attacks. According to the Houthi account, schools, bridges and roads in Taiz were among the targets, along with locations in Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, Saada and Amran.

The Houthis also claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 over Marib using a locally made air-to-air missile.

Reuters quoted a Houthi military source as denying that the group posed any threat to Mecca or other Islamic holy sites.

Pakistan condemns reported attack on Mecca

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned what he described as an attempted drone attack on Makkah Al-Mukarramah.

Sharif said the people of Pakistan were “saddened and perturbed” by the incident and praised the Saudi armed forces for their vigilance and professionalism.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and the security and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain.

At the same time, Sharif called for maximum restraint from all sides, saying the region had endured enough conflict and that dialogue and diplomacy remained the only sustainable route to peace.

4. Saudi Arabia turns to Egypt as attacks intensify

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo as concerns grew over attacks on Saudi infrastructure and shipping routes in the Red Sea.

The Houthi campaign has raised concerns over the security of Saudi oil exports passing through the maritime corridor. An attack that damaged a major Saudi oil pipeline has also heightened concerns over threats to the kingdom’s energy infrastructure.

The developments have contributed to renewed pressure on regional energy and shipping routes.

Egypt reaffirms support for Red Sea security

During the meeting in Cairo, Saudi Arabia and Egypt reaffirmed their commitment to the freedom and security of maritime navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Sissi’s office described Egypt’s support for Saudi Arabia as “unwavering”.

The two countries did not announce specific military measures, but Egypt’s regional influence and its position along the Red Sea give it an important role in efforts to protect maritime traffic.

Houthi control raises concerns over Bab el-Mandeb

The Houthis’ territorial and military gains in Yemen have increased concerns over shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean.

The group has targeted commercial shipping in the region, putting pressure on one of the world’s important trade routes and creating additional risks for Saudi oil exports to Asian markets.

Saudi Arabia has so far appeared cautious about launching another major military campaign in Yemen, amid concerns that a wider conflict could trigger further attacks on its oil infrastructure and pull the kingdom deeper into Yemen’s prolonged civil war.

The reported drone interception near Mecca and the competing Saudi and Houthi accounts have added another sensitive dimension to the conflict, bringing the security of Islam’s holiest city into the wider regional confrontation.