Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
Saudi Arabia said its air defense forces intercepted and destroyed a drone before it could enter the restricted airspace around Mecca, warning that the security of Islam’s holiest sites remains a “red line” for the Kingdom. The incident comes amid renewed military tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have stepped up cross-border attacks in recent weeks.
Saudi military spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki said the drone was detected and neutralized before reaching the holy city. He stressed that the protection of Mecca, the two holy mosques and millions of pilgrims is a top national priority and vowed a firm response to any threat targeting sacred sites.
The Houthis, however, denied allegations that Mecca was the intended target. Houthi leader Hazem Al-Assad dismissed the claim on social media platform X, calling it “old and baseless.” The conflicting statements have raised questions about the drone’s origin and intended destination, with both sides maintaining sharply different versions of events.
The development follows a fresh escalation in hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed that Saudi fighter jets carried out 52 airstrikes across several Yemeni provinces, including Taiz, Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, Saada and Amran. According to the Houthis, the attacks damaged civilian infrastructure, including roads, bridges and schools. Saudi authorities have not immediately commented on the allegations.
Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that three civilians, including two children, were killed in airstrikes in Yemen’s Taiz province, while two others were injured. The claims have not been independently verified. Earlier this week, the Saudi-led coalition said Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif injured 13 civilians, prompting Riyadh to promise a “responsible and decisive” response.
Amid the growing regional tensions, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Cairo and met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key global trade route increasingly affected by regional conflicts.
