Saudi Arabia says it shot down Houthi drone south of Mecca
Saudi Arabia reported intercepting a Houthi-launched drone south of Mecca, condemning the act as a transgression against holy sites. The Houthi group denied targeting the city, claiming their operations are strictly focused on military and oil infrastructure in retaliation for Saudi air strikes.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the ongoing volatility of the Yemen conflict and the potential for escalation involving religious sites, which carries significant geopolitical and security implications for the Middle East.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, The Houthis denied they had targeted Mecca, where Islam's most sacred shrine is located
Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of the Islamic holy city of Mecca on Tuesday evening, according to the spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
Turki al-Maliki said the targeting of Mecca, which is the home of Islam's most sacred shrine and the focal point of the Hajj pilgrimage, was a "disgraceful act".
The 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation said attacks on Mecca and Medina province, where Islam's second holiest shrine is located, constituted an "unacceptable and intolerable transgression".
But the Houthis, an Iran-backed armed group that controls much of western Yemen, denied targeting Mecca and accused Saudi Arabia of "fabrications and lies".
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in