Saudi Forces Claim Drone Intercept, Houthi Casualties Report
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthi rebels reported intercepting a drone near Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Meanwhile, the Houthis claimed that 17 people had been killed in Yemen over a period of two days.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly accused the Houthis of attempting to target Mecca and Medina, two of the most important holy cities for Muslims. The Houthis, who are supported by Iran, have denied these allegations.
Turki al-Malki, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, confirmed the drone interception through social media. However, he did not identify who was responsible for launching the drone.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree denied that the group had carried out any attacks on Saudi territory on Tuesday. He described the coalition’s claim as a “slanderous lie.”
The conflict in Yemen began in 2014 when the Houthis took control of the capital, Sanaa. In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition entered the war to support Yemen’s internationally recognised government. A truce agreed upon in 2022 later collapsed in July, leading to renewed fighting.
The Houthis subsequently captured areas near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, an important international shipping route connecting Europe and Asia through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
On November 3, the Houthis claimed that Saudi airstrikes had killed 17 civilians over two days. They said most of the victims were children and accused Saudi forces of attacking homes, residential neighbourhoods, and markets.
Yahya Saree also claimed that Saudi Arabia had carried out 109 airstrikes in Yemen over the previous 24 hours. According to him, the attacks targeted areas in Saada, Taiz, Lahj, Al-Jawf, and Hodeidah. The Houthis also reported drone attacks on airports in eastern and southern Saudi Arabia.
The United Nations has reported that more than 1,600 people have been killed and over 300,000 displaced since fighting resumed in Yemen. The continuing conflict has raised concerns about civilian safety and the wider impact on the region.