Saudi air defences intercept Houthi drone near Mecca; rebels deny attack

Saudi air defence forces intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday evening before it could enter the holy city's airspace, Saudi authorities said. However, a Houthi official on Wednesday denied the claim, calling reports that the rebels targeted Mecca "a worn-out lie".

The drone was intercepted at 6:50 pm Saudi time, according to the authorities, says Arab News.

"The claims about targeting Mecca are a worn-out lie that has been used before and no longer fools anyone," Hazem al-Assad, a member of the Houthis' politburo, wrote on X.

Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, described the attempted attack as a "red line" in a statement released early on Wednesday.

Mecca is Islam's holiest city and the focal point of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The coalition said the attempted attack by the Iran-backed Houthi militia was a deliberate act intended to inflame the feelings of millions of Muslims around the world.

The coalition also described the incident as a "black mark" in the Houthis' record of violations.

The incident comes amid a series of attacks involving missiles and drones targeting areas of Saudi Arabia.

On Monday, ballistic missiles targeting civilian areas in Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif injured 13 civilians, according to Saudi authorities. Attacks across other Saudi towns and cities during the previous week left more than 70 people injured, including women and children.

On Friday, drone attacks in the Riyadh and Madinah regions forced Saudi Arabia to temporarily shut down its East-West Pipeline, according to the authorities. The attacks drew condemnation from Gulf and Muslim organisations.

The Houthis have previously targeted areas near Mecca. In 2017, Saudi air defences intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile over the Al-Wasliya area in Taif province that was heading towards Mecca. No injuries or damage were reported in that incident.