Saudi Arabia announced that the country's air defense systems intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca. This fact was confirmed on Tuesday, and Saudi officials noted that the drone was targeted before entering the restricted airspace of the holy city of Mecca.
The Importance of Mecca's Security
Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition, stated in a statement that the security of the two holy places of Islam and their pilgrims is a 'red line'. He added that the coalition will take necessary deterrent measures against the Houthis. Mecca, a sacred place for Muslims around the world, hosts millions of pilgrims each year during Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam.
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Houthi Response and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
Al-Maliki described this incident as the second attempt by the Houthis to target Mecca, referring to a ballistic missile launch in July 2017. In response, a Houthi official denied this claim, stating that these accusations are a repeated lie that no longer deceives anyone.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation also condemned this attack, which they described as 'malicious', holding the Houthis responsible for this action. This organization, consisting of 57 Muslim countries, strongly condemned the ongoing attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia issued security warnings in some areas of the country, including Mecca and other cities. This decision was made following an increase in attacks by Iranian-aligned military groups that have severely dragged the kingdom into Middle Eastern wars.
The Houthis control part of the Red Sea coast of Yemen, which is recognized as one of the most important maritime chokepoints in the world. This poses a threat to Saudi oil exports from the Strait of Hormuz. The group has recently carried out several major attacks against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on an airbase that they claimed were retaliatory for airstrikes on Yemen.
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