‘Red line’: Saudi coalition accuses Houthis of targeting Mecca with drone

The Saudi-led coalition has accused the Houthis, who are backed by Iran, of targeting the holy city of Mecca with a drone, a move that has sparked outrage among Muslims worldwide and escalated an already volatile conflict in the region. Recently, the conflict has drawn in Saudi Arabia, with the Houthis declaring a maritime blockade on the kingdom and attacking its ships in the Red Sea.

In a previous offensive last week, the Houthis took control of Yemen's Red Sea coast, including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial route for Saudi oil exports which is also threatened by the ongoing Middle East war. The Houthis rejected Saudi claims that they had shot down a drone headed towards Mecca, stating that such claims were a "lie" they have used before.

Saudi Arabia vowed to retaliate, emphasizing that the security of holy sites is a "red line" that will not be tolerated. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the attack as "heinous". Saudi Arabia had previously issued alerts about possible attacks in Mecca and other southern parts of the kingdom, following a wave of missile and drone strikes that injured 13 people in the south.

Fighting resumed in July when the Houthis launched a broad offensive against Yemeni government forces. Yemen's UN representative called for international action against the rebels, as Saudi Arabia and Egypt urged for the freedom and security of maritime navigation through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The conflict's resurgence has prompted Riyadh to seek a response, with the US reportedly turning down a request by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for American intervention.