Saudi Arabia announced that the country's air defense intercepted and destroyed a drone that officials said was launched by Houthi rebels from Yemen, south of the holy city of Mecca. This is the first attack on the sacred city of Mecca since tensions escalated between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis this month.
Details of the Attack on Mecca
In a statement released on Wednesday, Colonel Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition, said that the country's air defense was able to destroy the drone before it entered the restricted airspace of Mecca, which is located about 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Jeddah. Al-Maliki described the incident as an "outrageous act" and an attempt to intimidate worshippers and harm civilians, warning that "the security of the two holy mosques and the pilgrims is a red line."
Houthi Response and Its Consequences
The Houthi group quickly rejected Saudi Arabia's claim of targeting Mecca, describing the allegation as "fabricated and false." This comes as the Houthis have intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, accusing the country of conducting airstrikes and firing cruise missiles into Yemen. On Tuesday, the Houthis announced that they had fired dozens of ballistic missiles and drones at Aramco facilities in the port city of Yanbu, causing damage to these facilities.
Al-Maliki also announced that at least 13 civilians were injured as a result of a series of Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities such as Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif on Monday. Last week, the Houthis also carried out a series of other attacks on Saudi Arabia, resulting in injuries to at least 73 people and temporarily halting operations at some energy facilities.
Amid these tensions, the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of conducting over 450 airstrikes against their positions in Yemen last week. Additionally, a military spokesman for the Houthis, Yahya al-Sari, announced that his forces shot down an armed Wing Loong II drone belonging to Saudi Arabia while it was conducting hostile operations in the central Marib province.
Discussions and Regional Tensions
This increase in tensions comes as concerns about freedom of navigation and global energy supply flows are rising, especially following significant Houthi advances along Yemen's western coast and overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The interim foreign minister of the Houthis, Abdulwahid Abu Ras, stated in an exclusive interview that their group does not intend to close the Red Sea and is ready for dialogue, but did not provide details about the parties they might meet with.
Recently, reports have emerged of American officials meeting with Houthi representatives at the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, Oman. According to these reports, the Houthis informed the American side that they have no plans to attack American ships in the Red Sea and will adhere to the 2025 ceasefire.
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