Saudi Arabia Accuses Houthis of Targeting Makkah

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday accused Yemen’s Houthi rebels of targeting the holy city of Makkah, while the Saudi-led coalition warned that the security of Islam’s two holiest sites and pilgrims was a “red line.”

The coalition said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah on Tuesday before it entered the city’s restricted airspace. The incident has intensified tensions between the Iran-aligned Houthis and Saudi Arabia.

The Houthis rejected the accusation, calling Riyadh’s claim a “worn-out lie.”

“The claims about targeting Makkah are a worn-out lie that has been used before and no longer fools anyone,” Houthi political bureau member Hazem al-Assad wrote on X.

Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a “red line” and warned that the coalition would take necessary and deterrent measures against the Houthis.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a bloc representing 57 Muslim countries, condemned what it described as a “heinous” attack.

Saudi authorities issued brief alerts on Tuesday over possible attacks in Makkah and several areas in the south of the kingdom bordering Yemen. The alerts came a day after a wave of ballistic missile and drone attacks launched from Yemen reportedly wounded 13 people in southern Saudi Arabia.

The latest escalation follows renewed fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. The conflict, which had been largely dormant since a 2022 truce, has drawn Riyadh deeper into the fighting.

The Houthis have also declared a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia and threatened Saudi-linked vessels in the Red Sea.

Last week, the group reportedly seized control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic waterway connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The route has become increasingly important for Saudi oil exports as wider regional tensions disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt have called for freedom and security of navigation through both the Bab al-Mandab and Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi discussed the issue on Tuesday, according to Egypt’s presidency.

The disruption of the Bab al-Mandab could also affect Egypt, as the Red Sea provides access to the Suez Canal, a key source of revenue for Cairo. Canal revenues are reportedly around half their level before Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping began in 2023.

Qatar has warned that any closure of the Bab al-Mandab would have “catastrophic” consequences for the global economy.

The Houthis have also targeted Saudi energy infrastructure, contributing to fears over global oil supplies and helping push crude prices above $100 a barrel.

The Saudi-led coalition said it would respond firmly to attacks and take all necessary operational measures to protect the kingdom’s sovereignty and maritime interests.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia had carried out 52 airstrikes in Yemen over the previous 24 hours, alleging that civilian sites, including schools and bridges, were targeted. The claim has not been independently verified.

The renewed conflict has also displaced tens of thousands of people. The United Nations said more than 82,000 people had fled their homes since the beginning of September.