Saudi coalition says drone intercepted near Mecca, warns of red line

Saudi Arabia's air defenses destroyed a Houthi-operated drone south of Mecca on Tuesday, preventing it from entering the city's restricted airspace, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition said. The coalition official, Turki al-Malki, described the protection of Islam's holiest sites and pilgrims as a "red line" and warned that necessary deterrent actions would be taken against the Yemen-based group.

Al-Malki noted the incident was the second alleged attempt by the Houthis to strike Mecca, referencing a ballistic missile launch in July 2017 that the coalition said also targeted the city. The Houthi movement rejected the accusation, with spokesperson Hazem al-Assad posting on X that claims of targeting Mecca are a "worn-out lie".

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned what it called a "heinous" attack on the holy city and blamed the Houthis for ongoing aggression against Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities issued security alerts across several regions, including Mecca, after a series of attacks by Iran-aligned fighters that have heightened the kingdom's involvement in the regional conflict.

The Houthis, who control parts of Yemen's Red Sea coast near the Bab al-Mandab strait, have recently announced multiple attacks on Saudi targets, including a strike on an airbase that they said was retaliation for Saudi airstrikes in Yemen.