Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi drone near Mecca, military says

Saudi air defences intercepted a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia near Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, the Saudi-led military coalition said early on Wednesday.

The unmanned aircraft was destroyed south of the city, according to coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki, who described the attempted attack in a post on X as a “disgraceful act.”

Authorities in Mecca had issued an alert on Tuesday, urging residents to remain calm and follow official instructions.

It was the first time an alert had been issued in the pilgrimage city since the latest escalation in the conflict with the Houthis.

According to al-Maliki, it was the first Houthi attempt to attack Mecca since 2017, when the group tried to target the city with a ballistic missile.

The Iran-aligned Houthis have stepped up attacks on neighbouring Saudi Arabia amid a renewed escalation of the war in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia supports Yemen’s internationally recognized government and has carried out airstrikes against the Houthis as part of the Saudi-led military coalition.

The kingdom has also come under attack from Iraq. Iran-backed Shiite militias are suspected of being behind those attacks.