Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone near Makkah on Tuesday evening. The incident has raised concerns over the safety of the holy city as tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement continue.
Major General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Coalition Forces Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen, said the drone was intercepted before it could reach its intended target. He described the incident as the second reported attempt linked to the Houthis to target the Makkah area.
According to Al-Maliki, the earlier incident took place in 2017, when Saudi Arabia reported intercepting a ballistic missile that was heading toward Makkah. The latest drone incident has renewed concerns about attacks involving missiles and unmanned aircraft in the region.
The coalition warned that it would take action against any further attacks that threaten Saudi territory or important civilian and religious sites. Saudi authorities have continued to monitor the situation and strengthen air defence measures.
However, the Houthis denied that they had targeted Makkah. The group rejected the Saudi allegation, leaving differences between the two sides over the circumstances and purpose of the drone attack.
The incident comes amid continued tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who have been involved in Yemen’s long-running conflict. Any attack or alleged attack near Makkah carries particular importance because the city is home to Islam’s holiest site, the Grand Mosque.
Authorities are expected to continue monitoring the situation closely as regional tensions remain high.