The Mecca drone row has intensified Saudi-Houthi tensions after Riyadh said its air defenses intercepted a drone approaching the holy city. The Houthis denied targeting Mecca and separately claimed they shot down a Saudi F-15 over Yemen’s Marib province.
Mecca drone row raises security concerns
Saudi Arabia condemned what it described as an attempt by Yemen’s Houthis to target Mecca after the Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepted and destroyed a drone south of the holy city. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Saudi-led coalition said the aircraft was stopped before entering restricted airspace over Mecca.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry condemned the incident and said the kingdom reserved the right to take necessary measures to protect the Two Holy Mosques, pilgrims, citizens and residents. Saudi authorities have stressed that the security of Mecca and other holy sites remains a major national security concern.
The Houthis rejected Riyadh’s allegation that the drone was intended to strike Mecca. Houthi representatives said their military operations were directed at Saudi military and economic targets rather than Islamic holy sites. The competing accounts underline the difficulty of independently establishing the intended target of the intercepted drone.
Houthi denial follows Saudi accusation
The dispute quickly drew regional attention because of Mecca’s religious significance to Muslims worldwide. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned what it described as Houthi attacks against Mecca and the Madinah region, saying threats to holy sites and civilians were unacceptable.
The confrontation comes amid renewed hostilities between Saudi-led forces and the Houthis in Yemen. Both sides have traded allegations over airstrikes, drone launches and other military operations as tensions increase across several parts of the country.
Houthis make Saudi F-15 claim over Marib
In a separate development, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the group shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Yemen’s Marib province using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile.
Saree said the aircraft was conducting military operations when it was targeted. He also alleged that Saudi forces had carried out more than 450 airstrikes across Yemen during the previous week. Saudi Arabia had not publicly confirmed the reported F-15 loss at the time of the initial reports, and the shootdown claim had not been independently verified.
Marib claim adds to Saudi-Houthi tensions
Marib remains strategically important in Yemen’s conflict and has repeatedly been a focus of fighting between Houthi forces and groups aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized authorities.
The combination of the disputed Mecca drone incident and the claimed F-15 shootdown points to a sharp escalation in Saudi-Houthi tensions. With both sides issuing competing accounts, confirmation from official authorities and independent evidence will remain important as further details emerge.
