Saudi Arabia’s military successfully intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Houthi forces near Mecca on September 15, according to statements from the Saudi-led coalition. The drone was prevented from entering the restricted airspace over the holy city, a move underscored by coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki as critical to safeguarding the sanctity of the two holy mosques and ensuring the safety of pilgrims.
This incident marks the second reported attempt by Houthi forces to target Mecca, following a ballistic missile incident in 2017. In response to the latest threat, al-Malki emphasized that the security of Mecca and Medina is a “red line” and warned of potential retaliatory measures to deter future assaults by the Houthis.
However, the Houthi group has denied any intent to target Mecca. Their spokesperson, Hazem al-Assad, refuted the Saudi claims, insisting that the holy city was not a target of their drone operations.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned the reported attack, reinforcing its commitment to protect Islamic holy sites, including Mecca and Medina. The OIC’s statement aligns with a broader context of heightened security alerts in Saudi Arabia amid an increase in Houthi-led attacks.