Drone attack thwarted near Mecca, Saudi Arabia on high alert

The drone was shot down before it could enter the restricted airspace of Mecca.

The Saudi Arabia-led military coalition reported that a suspected Houthi drone was intercepted and destroyed by the Saudi air defense system south of Mecca. According to news agency Reuters, the drone was shot down before it could enter the restricted airspace of Mecca. Following this incident, Saudi Arabia issued a security alert in several parts of the country, including Mecca. This step is said to have been taken after a series of attacks by Houthi fighters over the past week.

Saudi military coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki stated that,

this was the second attempt by the Houthis to target Mecca since the ballistic missile attack in July 2017. He warned that the coalition would take necessary defensive actions against the Iran-backed group. However, Reuters reported, citing a source from the Houthi army, that there was no threat to Mecca or any other Islamic holy site.

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the Houthi attacks targeting the Mecca and Medina regions. The OIC stated in a message released on the social media platform ‘X’ that the security of holy sites must be ensured at all costs and any attempt to target them is unacceptable.

The Houthis have claimed responsibility for several attacks on Saudi Arabia over the past week, including an attack on an air force base on Monday. The Houthis stated that these attacks were in response to airstrikes on Yemen.

Times Of Israel reported that,

following the security alert issued by Riyadh, the United States has also advised its citizens not to travel to Saudi Arabia. It is noteworthy that this incident occurred at a time when Iran-backed Houthi fighters have carried out several attacks over the past week. These attacks have deepened Saudi Arabia's role in the conflict.

Mecca is the center of the most sacred sites in Islam and the main location for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Al-Maliki stated that the security of Mecca is a “red line” for Saudi Arabia. However, the Houthis have denied the allegations of targeting Mecca.

The Houthi-controlled news agency ‘Saba’ stated that the accusation of targeting Mecca is “outright false.” Saudi Arabia issued a security alert for Mecca on Tuesday.

These attacks on Saudi Arabia have raised concerns in global energy markets. The ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict has already severely limited shipping through Hormuz for the past six months.

In recent days, the Houthis have gained control over parts of Yemen's Red Sea. These areas are located near Bab al-Mandeb, one of the world's most important maritime trade routes. This poses a threat to Saudi oil exports being sent via alternative routes instead of Hormuz. The Houthis have claimed several major attacks on Saudi Arabia over the past week. On Monday, September 14, an attack was carried out on an airbase, which the Houthis claimed was in response to airstrikes on Yemen. According to the Saudi-led military coalition, this attack injured 13 civilians.

Saudi Arabia has blamed an Iran-backed organization based in Iraq for another attack that occurred on Friday, September 11. This attack caused the shutdown of Saudi Arabia's crucial ‘East-West Pipeline’ that runs through the Arabian desert. Traders say that if this pipeline remains closed for an extended period, it could affect nearly four percent of the world's total oil supply. Saudi Arabia has not yet disclosed when the pipeline will resume operations.

However, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated on Tuesday to CNBC that crude oil supply from the pipeline could resume in a few days.

Saudi Arabia has been leading a military coalition against the Houthis since 2015. In recent years, ceasefires had largely quieted the fighting, but the conflict has intensified again this month after the Houthis pushed back Yemen's government-aligned forces. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump last week, requesting military assistance. However, U.S. support has so far been limited to providing intelligence.