🔶 Saudi Arabia: The Houthis wanted to target Mecca

According to officials in Saudi Arabia, the country’s air defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone belonging to the Houthis in Yemen in the south of Mecca. In response, the Houthis denied targeting Mecca or other Islamic holy sites.

Turki al-Maliki, a spokesman for the military coalition led by Saudi Arabia in Yemen, said that the attack took place on the evening of September 15, calling it an “outrageous act.” He said: “The security of the sacred mosques and the pilgrims is a red line for Saudi Arabia.”

This is the second time that Saudi officials have said that the Houthis tried to attack Mecca. According to al-Maliki, in 2017 a Houthi ballistic missile was intercepted while en route to Mecca.

The Houthis in Yemen have rejected these allegations and emphasized: “No threat from Yemen is directed at Mecca or other Islamic holy sites.”