Saudi coalition says Houthi drone destroyed near Mecca

The Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen reported that a Houthi drone had been destroyed south of Mecca before it entered prohibited airspace over the holy city, according to spokesperson Turki al-Malki. This was the second attempt by Houthi fighters to target Mecca, following a ballistic missile launch in July 2017, as fighting escalates in the Middle East.

Mecca, a city of great significance in Islam, is home to numerous holy sites and the focal point of the annual hajj pilgrimage. Its security was considered a "red line" by the coalition spokesperson. Houthi officials have denied targeting Mecca. The attacks on Saudi Arabia have caused shockwaves in global energy markets, which have been volatile due to the six-month conflict between the US and Iran.

The Houthis have seized control of parts of Yemen's Red Sea coast, including the Bab al-Mandab strait, a crucial shipping route, potentially disrupting Saudi Arabia's oil exports. Saudi Arabia issued security alerts for Mecca, but Houthi political bureau member Mohammed al-Farah disputed the claims, calling it a "lie". Over the past week, the Houthis have carried out several major attacks on Saudi Arabia, including an attack on an airbase that wounded 13 civilians.

Saudi Arabia has also accused a pro-Iranian movement based in Iraq of an attack that crippled an important oil transport route, the East-West Pipeline. This pipeline, linking Saudi Arabia's Gulf oil fields to the Red Sea, is a crucial export route, and its shutdown could result in a significant loss of global oil supply. The conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has been ongoing since 2015, with a ceasefire in place for recent years.

However, the recent pushback by the Houthis has reignited the conflict. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought military support from US President Donald Trump, which so far has been limited to intelligence aid.