Houthis report Saudi strikes as Riyadh accuses them of targeting Mecca

On Wednesday, Yemen's Houthi rebels reported Saudi airstrikes, as Riyadh accused the group of launching a "cowardly attack" targeting the holy city of Mecca. The Houthi faction swiftly denied Riyadh's claim of shooting down a drone heading towards Mecca, prompting global outrage. Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry condemned the targeting of Mecca as a "cowardly terrorist attack," reaffirming its right to defend the security of the two holy mosques and the entire Saudi territory.

Houthi politburo member Hazem al-Assad dismissed the accusation as a "worn-out lie," while a Mecca resident reported seeing people panic after receiving an alert of an attack. Saudi Arabia has accused the Houthis of launching attacks on the city in an earlier conflict. The Saudi-led coalition vowed retaliation, warning that the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims is a "red line."

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree reported 40 airstrikes on Taiz, Marib, and Hodeidah in the past 24 hours, while the group claimed to have targeted a Saudi air base and a state oil company facility in Yanbu. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Arab League chief Nabil Fahmy condemned the attacks.