Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that its air defences had intercepted and destroyed a drone it alleged had been launched by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, in an incident south of Mecca that has brought the conflict’s threat to Saudi territory closer to Islam’s holiest city.
The drone was destroyed on Tuesday evening before it entered restricted airspace over Mecca, Saudi Arabia said. The authorities had issued security alerts for incoming projectiles in western areas on Tuesday, including Mecca and Jeddah. No details were given about the air defence system used, the drone’s origin or any damage or casualties.
The Houthis denied targeting Mecca. Yahya Sarea, the group’s military spokesman, said: “There is no threat whatsoever from Yemen to the holy sites. Our operations target their oil facilities and military bases, and are far removed from the holy places”
Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said the security of Mecca and its pilgrims was a “red line”. He said the command would take “necessary and deterrent measures”.
The exchange leaves the central allegation disputed. Saudi Arabia has attributed the drone to the Houthis, while the group has denied an operation against a holy site and said its attacks are directed at Saudi oil facilities and military bases.
Sarea said the Houthis had launched drones and missiles at Saudi Arabia in response to more than 450 Saudi air strikes on their territory over the past week. The precise period covered by that figure was not specified.
The incident comes during a period of wider military pressure on Saudi infrastructure and of territorial advances by the Houthis. The group recently captured the strategic port city of Mokha and Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline was closed after it was badly damaged in a strike. The kingdom blamed Iran-backed militias in Iraq for that attack. The timetable for reopening the pipeline remains unclear, although the US Energy Secretary said on Tuesday that it was expected to resume operations “within days”.
Sarea also said the Houthis had shot down a Saudi fighter jet over Marib province. The Saudi-led coalition was formed in 2015.
International responses have focused on the alleged danger to holy places. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a bloc of 57 Muslim nations, condemned attacks on Mecca and Medina province as an “unacceptable and intolerable transgression”. Pakistan’s prime minister also condemned the alleged attack, according to the information provided.
The US embassy in Saudi Arabia issued a “reconsider travel” advisory. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has personally pressed US President Donald Trump to take military action against the Houthis.
Trump has declined to involve the US military directly. He has instead offered intelligence and targeting support, leaving Washington’s role limited even as Saudi Arabia reports threats to its infrastructure and the areas around its holy sites. It remains unknown whether the US position on direct military involvement will change.
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