Saudi Arabia’s air defense forces intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia near Makkah on Tuesday evening, the Saudi-led military coalition announced. The unmanned aircraft was shot down south of the city before it could enter the restricted airspace surrounding Islam’s holiest city, home to the Grand Mosque and the Holy Kaaba.
Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, a spokesperson for the coalition known as the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, confirmed the interception took place at 6:50 p.m. He described the attempted attack as a “disgraceful act” and emphasized that the security of Makkah and the Two Holy Mosques remains a “red line” that Saudi Arabia will fiercely protect. The incident marks what the coalition says is the Houthis’ second attempt to target the holy city, following a ballistic missile strike in July 2017.
The drone alert was the first of its kind issued in Makkah since the recent escalation in the conflict with Houthi forces in Yemen. Authorities in the city urged residents to stay calm and follow official directives as warning sirens were sounded during the threat. The alert was later lifted after Saudi defenses ensured the city was safe.
Saudi Arabia condemned the incident as a terrorist attack targeting a religious site of immense significance for Muslims worldwide. Riyadh praised its air defense forces for the successful interception and reiterated its right to take all necessary measures to protect its territory, citizens, residents, and the millions of pilgrims who visit annually.
The Coalition’s announcement drew widespread condemnation across the Muslim world. Yemen’s government described the attack on the sanctity of the holy city as a provocation and praised Saudi Arabia for preventing the drone from reaching restricted airspace. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and reaffirmed Islamabad’s support for Saudi sovereignty and the protection of the Two Holy Mosques. Kuwait also denounced the incident, emphasizing solidarity with the Kingdom and commending Saudi air defense efforts.
Regional organizations, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Muslim World League, similarly condemned the attack and expressed support for Saudi Arabia’s measures to safeguard Makkah and Madinah, underscoring the importance of protecting these religious sites.
In contrast, a Houthi official dismissed the Saudi claims, calling them a “worn-out lie” and rejecting assertions that Makkah was targeted. The dispute highlights a continued tension between the Houthis’ rhetoric, which often invokes religion and Muslim causes, and the actions that place military risks near Islam’s most sacred sites.
The incident underscores growing concerns over security around the holy cities amid ongoing regional conflicts, as Saudi Arabia maintains its commitment to firmly defending the sanctity and safety of Makkah and other protected sites.