Saudi Arabia Says Houthi Drone Attack Targeted on Mecca, Issues Stern Warning
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has accused Yemen’s Houthi group of launching a drone toward the holy city of Mecca, saying the aircraft was intercepted and brought down before it could enter the city’s protected airspace.
The incident has prompted a strong warning from Riyadh, which said on Wednesday that any attempt to target Mecca or other holy sites would be considered a serious violation and that it would not hesitate to take what it described as necessary measures against the Houthis.
According to Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, the drone was launched on Tuesday evening and was intercepted south of Mecca before entering the protected area.
Saudi authorities also imposed security alerts in Mecca, Taif and Jeddah on Tuesday amid concerns over possible Houthi attacks. The alerts were later lifted.
Houthis Reject Saudi Allegation
The Houthis have denied targeting Mecca, describing the Saudi allegation as false.
Hazem al-Asad, a member of the Houthi political bureau, said on X that claims of an attack targeting Mecca were a repetition of what he called “false allegations.”
The group has not accepted Saudi Arabia’s account of the alleged drone launch.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as an attempt to target the holy city and said the kingdom had the right to take necessary measures to protect the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, pilgrims, residents and its territory.
Saudi Arabia has previously accused the Houthis of targeting Mecca. In July 2017, Riyadh said it had intercepted a ballistic missile launched toward the holy city.
Houthis Claim Saudi F-15 Was Shot Down
Meanwhile, the Houthis have claimed that they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Yemen’s Marib province.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the aircraft was brought down near the Helan mountain range, northwest of Marib, using a locally developed surface-to-air missile.
Al Jazeera, citing local sources, also reported the Houthi claim. Saudi authorities had not publicly confirmed the reported loss of an F-15 at the time of the report.
The Houthis have also claimed that Saudi Arabia carried out hundreds of airstrikes against their positions in Yemen in recent days. Officials from Yemen’s Saudi-backed government have acknowledged that their forces, along with Saudi Arabia, are conducting air operations against Houthi positions. Saudi authorities, however, have not publicly provided details confirming the reported number of strikes.
Bangladesh and Other Countries Condemn Alleged Attack
Bangladesh has strongly condemned the reported attempt to target Mecca.
In a statement, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed its respect for the sanctity of Mecca and other holy sites in Saudi Arabia and expressed solidarity with the Saudi government and people in protecting the sacred places.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Arab League, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Pakistan and India also condemned the reported incident.
The Arab League described any attempt to undermine the security of Mecca and the sanctity of Islamic holy sites as unacceptable.
US-Houthi Talks Reported in Oman
The latest developments come amid reports of renewed diplomatic contacts between the United States and the Houthis.
Reuters, citing five sources, reported that US officials held a secret meeting with Houthi representatives in Muscat, Oman, on Sunday. Two sources said the Omani government helped facilitate the meeting.
According to the sources, the discussions included a Houthi commitment not to attack US vessels and to observe a ceasefire reached in 2025.
One source said the Houthis had also agreed not to attack commercial vessels other than Israeli- or Saudi-owned ships. The details of the reported discussions have not been independently confirmed by all parties.
Fighting Intensifies Across Yemen
The alleged drone incident comes as fighting between Houthi forces and Yemen’s government-backed forces has intensified in parts of western Yemen.
Al Jazeera reported clashes on several fronts in Marib province, including the eastern Al-Balaq area. Government forces said they had repelled Houthi attacks. Fighting has also been reported in southern Taiz province.
Yemeni government forces have accused the Houthis of attempting to advance toward the Kahbub mountain range near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The strategic waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is an important route for international shipping.
More Than 100,000 Yemenis Displaced
The renewed fighting has also worsened Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.
According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, more than 100,000 people have been internally displaced in Yemen since the recent escalation in fighting.
More than 2,000 people have also crossed the Bab al-Mandab Strait in search of safety and reached Djibouti, according to UNHCR figures cited in reports.
Middle East analyst Lorenzo Kamel told Al Jazeera that viewing the Houthis solely as an Iranian proxy does not fully explain the group’s actions. He said the Houthis are also seeking to strengthen their own interests and domestic authority while putting pressure on Saudi Arabia to end its intervention in Yemen.
The latest escalation adds to growing tensions surrounding Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea, while diplomatic efforts involving the United States, Oman and the Houthis continue.
