Saudi says Houthis target Mecca, warn of ‘red line’

Saudi forces clashed with rebels targeting Islam's holiest city Mecca, escalating the conflict in Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition accused the Houthis of launching a drone attack towards Mecca, a claim the rebels dismissed as false. This accusation comes after the Houthis seized control of Yemen's Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, crucial for Saudi oil exports and the Strait of Hormuz shipping route.

The Houthis claimed to have targeted Mecca multiple times before, and rejected Riyadh's claims. The coalition vowed retaliation, warning the security of holy sites is a "red line." The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the attack, while Saudi Arabia issued alerts over possible attacks in Mecca and other southern regions.

Fighting intensified after the Houthis launched a large-scale offensive against Yemeni government forces in July, forcing 82,000 people to flee their homes since September. Saudi Arabia and Egypt called for free navigation through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, a vital shipping route. The Houthis denied any threat to navigation in the Strait and argued it's only the Saudi vessels that face threats.

Disruption in the strait could negatively impact Egypt's economy, as the Red Sea serves as its gateway to the Suez Canal, a crucial source of foreign revenue.