CAIRO, — Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday, according to the Saudi-led military coalition fighting Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis.
Coalition spokesman Turki Al-Malki said the drone did not enter the prohibited airspace over the holy city.
He said the security of Islam’s two holiest sites and pilgrims remains a “red line.” The coalition will take what he called necessary deterrent measures against the Houthis.
Coalition Reports Second Attempt
Al-Malki described the incident as the second reported Houthi attempt to target Mecca.
He referred to a ballistic missile launch in July 2017. The coalition had also described that incident as an attempt to target the holy city.
Mecca is Islam’s holiest city. It hosts the sacred sites visited by millions of Muslims during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Houthis Deny Threat to Holy Sites
Saudi Arabia issued security alerts across several areas on Tuesday. The alerts included Mecca and other cities.
The warnings came after a week of attacks by Iran-aligned fighters. The attacks have drawn Saudi Arabia further into the wider Middle East conflict.
A Houthi military source denied that the group posed a threat to Mecca or other holy sites. The Houthi-run SABA news agency carried the statement on Tuesday.
Houthi Attacks Target Saudi Arabia
The Houthis control parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The waterway is a major global shipping route. Its location also affects Saudi oil exports that have been rerouted from the Strait of Hormuz.
The Houthis have announced several attacks on Saudi Arabia over the past week.
On Monday, the group said it attacked an air base in Saudi Arabia. It described the strike as retaliation for Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen.
