Saudi Arabia accuses Huthis of ‘red line’ attack on Mecca as rebels face outrage from Muslim world

Saudi Arabia announced the downing of a Houthi drone near the holy city of Mecca, sparking condemnation from the regional coalition forces. Turki al-Maliki, the spokesperson for the coalition, declared that this was the first time in nearly a decade that the Houthis had targeted Mecca, a city they consider a red line. The kingdom vowed to take necessary measures against the Yemeni group.

However, the Houthis, who adhere to the Zaydi branch of Shiite Islam, vehemently denied the accusations, stating that their targets were Saudi oil facilities and military bases, not sacred sites. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation also condemned the incident, labeling it a violation of the sanctity of holy sites and mosques, instilling fear in innocent civilians.