Saudi Arabia says air defences intercepted drone near Mecca

Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Mecca on Tuesday, before it entered prohibited airspace over the holy city.

The Saudi-led coalition accused Yemen’s Houthi movement of launching the drone. Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki described the incident as the second alleged Houthi attempt to target Mecca. The Houthis denied launching it.

The coalition said the security of Islam’s two holiest sites and of pilgrims was a “red line”, and that it would take necessary deterrent measures against the Houthis. Saudi Arabia has also vowed to respond to recent Houthi drone and missile attacks that it said wounded 13 people in the kingdom’s south.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned what it described as Houthi attacks on Mecca and the Medina region. Its statement referred to ongoing aggression against Saudi Arabia, although it was unclear whether the plural reference applied only to the latest incident or to broader alleged attacks.

Mecca is Islam’s holiest city and the focal point of the annual hajj pilgrimage. The coalition previously said a ballistic missile was launched towards Mecca in July 2017.

The claims and attribution have not been independently verified. France 24 reported that the Houthis continued to deny responsibility for the drone.