Saudi says Houthis targeted Mecca with a drone, Iran-backed group rejects claim

On Wednesday, the Saudi-led coalition claimed that the Houthi rebels targeted the holy city of Makkah with a drone, sparking widespread outrage and intensifying the ongoing conflict in the region. The Houthis dismissed Riyadh's report of shooting down a drone headed towards Makkah as a "lie," stating that their claims about targeting the city had been made before and would not deceive anyone.

The coalition vowed retaliation, emphasizing that the security of holy sites is a "red line" and that the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition will not hesitate to take necessary measures against the Houthi militia. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the attack as "heinous."

Saudi Arabia had issued travel alerts on Tuesday, warning of possible attacks in Makkah and other parts of the kingdom. The alerts followed a wave of ballistic missile and drone attacks from Yemen that injured 13 people in the kingdom's south. Fighting between the Houthis and the Yemeni government intensified in July when the rebels launched a large-scale offensive, capturing the entire Red Sea coast and Bab al-Mandab Strait, crucial for Saudi oil exports.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt called for free navigation in the Red Sea after the Houthis' offensive, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi urging the preservation of maritime freedom and security through the Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab straits. The Houthis claim there is no threat to navigation except for Saudi vessels, but any attacks in the strait could deter shippers and negatively impact Egypt's economy, as the Red Sea serves as a crucial gateway to the Suez Canal.