We Do Not Target Mecca Or Any Holy Site — Houthis Deny Saudi Drone Claim

Yemen’s Houthi movement has denied launching a drone towards the holy city of Mecca, insisting it does not target Islamic holy sites.

In a statement to Yemen’s SABA news agency on Tuesday, a Houthi military source said the group poses no threat to Mecca or other holy places.

“We categorically deny that there is any threat from Yemen directed at the city of Mecca or any other holy sites,” the source said, describing reports of the alleged attack as “misinformation.”

According to Al Jazeera, Saudi Arabia had earlier claimed that its air defence forces intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone launched by the Houthis before it entered the restricted airspace over Mecca on Tuesday evening.

Al Jazeera reports that the spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition, Turki al-Maliki, condemned the incident as an attempt to frighten worshippers and harm civilians, warning that the security of the two holy mosques and pilgrims is a “red line.”

The Houthis have consistently denied targeting Mecca in the past, maintaining that they do not attack holy sites.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday issued a security alert in Mecca for the first time since 2017 when the Houthis last allegedly attempted to target the area. The alert was lifted after a few minutes, though similar alerts were activated in Taif and Jeddah.

The Saudi-led coalition also accused the Houthis of launching fresh strikes that injured 13 people in Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif, vowing to respond “firmly.”