Saudi-led coalition destroys Houthi drone near Mecca amid tensions

The Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed a Houthi drone near Mecca, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. The Houthis have seized parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb strait, threatening Saudi oil exports rerouted from the Strait of Hormuz, officials said.

Since the pipeline was shut after Friday’s attack, traders say a prolonged closure could cut off as much as 4% of global oil supply. The Houthis’ control of parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast poses a strategic threat to one of the world’s most important shipping lanes. A coalition spokesperson, Turki al-Malki, said the coalition would take necessary deterrent measures against the Houthis.

Houthi operations have targeted Saudi oil facilities and military bases, which are far removed from the sacred sites, according to officials. The conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi group dates back several years and has intensified recently.

The Houthis denied claims of targeting Mecca, calling such allegations “a worn-out lie that has been used before and no longer fools anyone.” Hazem al-Assad from the Houthis stated that the fabrications promoted by the Saudi regime regarding attacks on Mecca cannot deceive anyone, asserting there is no threat from Yemen to the sanctities.

The Yemeni Armed Forces claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet using a locally made air-to-air missile while it was carrying out hostile operations in Marib province airspace. Multiple coordinated attacks have been reported, with the Houthis indicating they have exhausted political solutions and see no other option.

The Saudi coalition’s destruction of the Houthi drone near Mecca triggered a major security alert, the first-ever attack alert in the holy city, sparking concern across the region. Muslim groups have condemned the Houthis for escalating tensions near Islam’s holiest sites.