Saudi Arabia has accused Yemen’s Houthi movement of attempting to target the holy city of Mecca with a drone, warning that the security of the kingdom’s Islamic holy sites and pilgrims is a “red line” as fighting between the two sides intensifies.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said its air defences intercepted and destroyed the drone south of Mecca on Tuesday before it could enter the restricted airspace over the city.
Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said the drone was intercepted at about 6:50pm local time. He described the incident as the second attempt by the Houthis to target Mecca, referring to a ballistic missile launch in July 2017 that Saudi authorities had previously attributed to the group.
Al-Malki said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and the safety of pilgrims were a “red line” for Saudi Arabia, adding that coalition forces would take what he described as necessary deterrent measures against the Houthis.
The accusation has been rejected by the Houthis. A Houthi military source denied that the group had targeted Mecca or other Islamic holy sites, while Houthi officials described Saudi Arabia’s claim as false. The competing accounts mean that the Saudi allegation has not been independently established.
Mecca is Islam’s holiest city and home to the Grand Mosque and the Kaaba. It is also the focal point of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which draws millions of Muslims from around the world. The reported interception has therefore added an especially sensitive dimension to the rapidly escalating conflict.
Saudi authorities issued security alerts on Tuesday covering Mecca and other parts of the kingdom following a series of attacks attributed by Riyadh to Iran-aligned fighters. The latest incident occurred as fighting between Houthi forces and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen intensified.
The Houthis have in recent days claimed responsibility for attacks against Saudi targets, including an attack on an air base, which the group said was carried out in retaliation for Saudi strikes in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has also faced growing security concerns as the wider regional conflict has expanded.
The escalation is taking place alongside developments around Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most important maritime routes. The Houthis have expanded their control in parts of Yemen’s western coastal region, increasing concerns over shipping and the movement of Saudi oil exports.
The latest confrontation also comes after years of conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. Saudi Arabia has led a coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government since 2015, while the Houthis have maintained control over large parts of northern and western Yemen.
For Saudi Arabia, the reported drone incident has raised the stakes because of the proximity to Mecca and the potential implications for the protection of pilgrims and religious sites. The Saudi-led coalition has warned that it will respond to threats against the holy sites, while the Houthis continue to deny that Mecca was their target.
The immediate focus is now on whether further attacks occur and whether the latest escalation leads to additional military action between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. With the two sides offering conflicting accounts of the Mecca incident, further evidence and official statements are likely to be important in establishing exactly what happened.
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