Saudi Arabia says it shot down Houthi drone south of Mecca

On Tuesday evening, Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of the Islamic holy city of Mecca, according to the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, Turki al-Maliki. The attack against Mecca, home to Islam's most sacred shrine and focal point of the Hajj pilgrimage, was described by Maliki as a "disgraceful act".

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned attacks on Mecca and Medina, describing them as an "unacceptable and intolerable transgression". The Houthis, an Iran-backed group controlling parts of western Yemen, denied targeting Mecca and blamed Saudi Arabia for fabrications. They stated that their operations targeted oil facilities and military bases, not the holy sites.

In retaliation for over 450 Saudi air strikes against their territory, the Houthis launched drones and missiles, including one that reportedly shot down a Saudi fighter jet over Marib province. Saudi authorities issued security alerts for incoming projectiles in several western areas, including Mecca and Jeddah. The US embassy in Saudi Arabia issued a travel advisory warning of Houthi attacks on various infrastructure.

The Houthis have recently seized control of significant parts of Yemen's Red Sea coast, including the port city of Mokha and Perim Island. Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline, crucial for oil exports to the Red Sea, was damaged by a strike blamed on Iran-backed militias in Iraq, potentially causing a delay in repairs. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting, with Yemen's government and Saudi Arabia calling for decisive action against the Houthis to maintain freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and prevent disruption to global supply chains.

Over 90,000 people have been displaced in Yemen due to the conflict, and the WHO reported at least 500 deaths since August, including 297 in the previous week.