Saudi Air Defences Down Drone Near Mecca

Saudi Arabia’s air defences have intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi group near the holy city of Mecca, according to the Saudi-led coalition.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said the drone was detected and brought down at about 6:50 p.m. local time on Tuesday before it entered restricted airspace around Islam’s holiest city. He said the wreckage fell south of Mecca.

In a statement posted on X, al-Malki said the Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces had “intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone launched by the Terrorist Houthi Militia before it entered the Prohibited Airspace Area of the Holy City of Makkah Al-Mukarramah.”

The spokesman described the incident as the second reported attempt by the Houthis to target Mecca, referring to a ballistic missile launch toward the city in July 2017.

Al-Malki said the safety of the Two Holy Mosques and Muslim pilgrims remained a priority, describing it as a “red line” and warning that the coalition would take steps to prevent further attacks.

The Houthi group has rejected the Saudi-led coalition’s account, saying it did not launch any drone toward Mecca.

The reported interception came a day after the coalition said Houthi missile and drone attacks had injured 13 civilians in the Saudi cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif. The coalition said seven homes and two vehicles were damaged in those attacks.

The latest incident comes as fighting in Yemen intensifies after a period of relative calm.

Yemen’s conflict began in 2014 when the Houthis seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and several provinces, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government.

Recent confrontations between Houthi forces and government troops have increased, with the group also targeting shipping routes in the Red Sea. The Houthis have previously carried out attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including oil facilities, raising security concerns in the region.

The renewed hostilities have further complicated Yemen’s long-running conflict, which has left millions of people in need of humanitarian assistance.