Saudi Arabia Says Drone Intercepted Near Mecca, Calls City a Red Line in Houthi Conflict
Saudi officials claim a drone was shot down south of Mecca and warned that any attack on the holy city would trigger decisive action, while Houthi rebels deny targeting the site.
Saudi military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki said the kingdom’s air defenses intercepted a drone south of Mecca on Tuesday evening, describing the protection of the holy city and pilgrims as a “red line.” He warned that Saudi forces would take “necessary and deterrent measures” if the Houthis attempted an attack.
The Iran-backed Houthi movement rejected the allegation, stating its recent operations were aimed at Saudi oil facilities and military bases far from Mecca and accusing Saudi Arabia of spreading “fabrications and lies.”
The dispute comes amid a broader escalation in the Yemen war, with Houthi forces advancing on the ground and conducting aerial strikes that have disrupted a key oil pipeline and threatened shipping through the Red Sea. Brent crude rose to about $108 a barrel, and diesel prices in Saudi Arabia reached a record $6.31 per gallon.
Regional leaders responded to the incident. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the alleged attack on Mecca, calling it a “dastardly and heinous” act, and reiterated Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia. The United States upgraded its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia to Level 3, urging Americans to reconsider travel and restricting government employees from border areas.
Analysts noted the incident highlights the Houthis’ growing operational reach inside Saudi territory. “The fact that they were able to strike this deep in Saudi Arabia is a signal of their capacity, if not future intentions,” said Adam Baron, a fellow at the New America think tank.
The United Nations convened an emergency Security Council session to address the rising violence, warning that clashes have displaced at least 125,000 people in Yemen since early September.