Saudi Coalition Intercepts Drone Targeting Mecca As Houthi Rebels Claim Jet Downed
Photo: Collected
Saudi Arabia has intercepted and destroyed an explosive-laden drone targeting the holy city of Mecca, prompting Riyadh to warn that the escalation crosses a final limit.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening, was strongly condemned by Bangladesh, alongside numerous other nations and international bodies including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League.
The Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen stated that the drone was shot down south of Mecca before it could breach the protected area. Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the coalition, called the attack a cowardly terrorist act and warned that the coalition will not hesitate to take decisive and preventative measures against the Houthi militia. In response to the threat, security alerts were briefly issued and subsequently lifted in Mecca, Taif, and Jeddah.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry asserted that the kingdom retains the legitimate right to take all necessary measures to protect the two holy mosques, pilgrims, its territory, and its residents.
The Houthi movement categorically denied the accusation, dismissing it as a repetitive falsehood aimed at misleading the public. Hazem al-Assad, a member of the Houthi political bureau, stated on social media that no one is confused by such claims anymore. Meanwhile, residents in Mecca reported that life remained largely normal despite the brief security panic.
The attack on Mecca drew swift international condemnation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh issued a statement reaffirming its deep respect for the sanctity of Mecca and other holy sites in Saudi Arabia, while expressing full solidarity with the kingdom and its people. Similar condemnations were voiced by Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, the Arab League, and the OIC.
Amid the escalating aerial tensions, the Houthis claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet in Yemen's Marib province using a domestically produced surface-to-air missile near Mount Helan. While local sources confirmed the downing to media outlets, Saudi authorities have not yet commented on the incident. The Houthi group also claimed recent attacks on a state oil company facility and an airbase belonging to Saudi Arabia, alleging that the kingdom has carried out some 450 airstrikes on Houthi positions in recent days.
In a parallel diplomatic development, US officials held secret talks with Houthi representatives in Muscat, facilitated by the government of Oman. Reuters reported the clandestine meeting citing multiple sources, coming at a time when Houthi forces have seized strategic locations including Mayyun Island and the coastal city of Mokha along the Bab al-Mandab Strait, tightening their grip on the vital shipping lane and further curtailing Saudi oil and gas exports. Heavy fighting between government forces and the Houthis continues to grip the Yemeni provinces of Taiz and Marib.
Middle East analyst Lorenzo Kamel noted that viewing the Houthis merely as an Iranian proxy obscures their broader strategy, as the group seeks to leverage regional instability to assert internal authority and pressure Saudi Arabia to halt its military intervention.
