Saudi Arabia has announced that its air defence forces intercepted and destroyed a drone allegedly launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the region surrounding Mecca, raising concerns about escalating military tensions across the Middle East.
The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government confirmed the interception on Friday, October 30, describing the drone as a weapon launched by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
Coalition spokesperson, Major General Turki al-Maliki, announced that the drone had been intercepted and destroyed in the Mecca region.
The incident is particularly sensitive because Mecca is Islam’s holiest city and attracts millions of Muslim pilgrims annually.
HOUTHIS DENY TARGETING MECCA
However, the Houthi movement rejected Saudi Arabia’s allegation, insisting that it had not conducted any military operation against Saudi territory on Friday.
The group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, dismissed the coalition’s account as false.
According to Reuters, Saree maintained that the group’s military operations target Saudi oil facilities and military installations rather than the holy city.
The Houthis have repeatedly denied previous Saudi-led coalition accusations that they attempted to target Mecca and Medina, Islam’s two holiest cities.
The conflicting accounts have made it difficult to independently establish the circumstances surrounding Friday’s interception.
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GROWING SECURITY CONCERNS IN SAUDI ARABIA
The latest incident comes amid an intensifying campaign of cross-border attacks involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
The Iran-aligned group has repeatedly targeted Saudi military installations, airports and energy infrastructure using drones and missiles.
Saudi Arabia has responded by strengthening its air defence operations to intercept incoming threats and protect critical infrastructure.
The coalition also announced separately on Friday that its forces had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi cruise missile reportedly targeting western Saudi Arabia.
The developments followed further attacks and interceptions reported in recent days, highlighting the growing security challenges facing the kingdom.
Any threat to Mecca carries significant religious and diplomatic implications because of the city’s importance to Muslims worldwide.
