Saudi claims Houthi drone destroyed near Mecca, Yemeni group dismisses 'lies'

Saudi Arabia has warned the Houthis of a “red line” after a drone was shot down and destroyed near Mecca. A spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen stated that the Houthi drone was destroyed before it entered the prohibited airspace over the holy city.

Mecca is home to some of the holiest sites in Islam and the focal point of the annual hajj pilgrimage, and its security was a "red line," the coalition added in the statement. (REUTERS/Repreentational)The drone, intercepted on Tuesday evening, was the second Houthi attempt to target Mecca after a ballistic missile launch in July 2017, spokesperson Turki al-Malki said in a statement, as reported by news agency Reuters.

This attack follows a week of attacks from the Yemeni militant group, which have drawn Saudi Arabia deeper into the war.

Mecca is home to some of the holiest sites in Islam and the focal point of the annual hajj pilgrimage, and its security was a "red line," the coalition added in the statement.

Shortly after Saudi Arabia alleged an attack on Mecca, a spokesperson from the Houthis' political bureau stated that the claim that the group targeted Mecca was false.

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

While the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi group dates back to the 2014 civil war, the recent attacks on Riyadh has brought more tensions to the West Asia region, where the United States remains embroiled in a war with Iran and Israel with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Saudi Arabia has led a coalition battling the Houthis since 2015. While the conflict had largely quietened under a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations, the recent attacks mark the first grave escalation since the ceasefire collapsed in October 2022.

The Houthis have seized control of parts of Yemen's Red Sea coast overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb, which is one of the world's most important shipping straits, after the Strait of Hormuz.

This Houthi blockade has threatened Saudi Arabia's oil exports amid the blockade of the Hormuz strait.

In the past week, the Yemeni militant group has carried out several attacks on Saudi Arabia, including targeting its military bases. As per the Houthis, these attacks on Saudi are in retaliation to airstrikes in Yemen.

Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.Read More