Saudi coalition warns Houthis after alleged Makkah drone attack

The Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen's Houthis accused the rebels of targeting the holy city of Makkah with a drone. According to the coalition, its forces intercepted the drone before it could reach the city. The coalition warned that the security of Islam's holiest sites remains a "red line" and vowed to take "necessary and deterrent measures" against the Houthis.

The Houthis rejected the accusation, calling it a "worn-out lie" that "no longer fools anyone". Hazem al-Assad from the Houthis' politburo made the statement on social media. The incident has sparked outrage across the Muslim world and deepened the conflict in the region.

Fresh fighting between the Iran-backed Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has led to a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, with the Houthis targeting its ships in the Red Sea. The conflict has also affected the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital artery for Saudi oil exports. The US has warned its citizens to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia due to the escalating conflict.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Times, Middle East Eye, The Jakarta Post, Dawn, New Straits Times — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.