Saudi says Houthis target Mecca, warn of 'red line'

Saudi Arabia has accused the Iran-backed Houthis of targeting Mecca, the Muslim holy city, prompting international outrage and escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict. The Houthis have rejected Saudi claims of shooting down a drone headed towards Mecca, calling it a "worn-out lie." The Saudi-led coalition vowed retaliation, warning that the security of holy sites is a "red line" and will not tolerate further attacks.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the attack, and Saudi Arabia issued alerts over possible attacks in Mecca and other southern regions following a wave of ballistic missile and drone strikes that wounded 13 people. Fighting erupted in July when the Houthis launched a large-scale offensive against Yemeni government forces, seizing control of Yemen's Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical shipping route.

The Houthis have denied any threat to navigation in the Bab al-Mandab, but disruption could harm Egypt's economy, as the Red Sea serves as a vital gateway to the Suez Canal.