Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepted and destroyed a Houthi-launched drone south of Mecca at approximately 6:50 p.m. local time on Tuesday.
- The aircraft was neutralized before it could enter restricted airspace over the Grand Mosque.
- Debris from the drone fell in an unpopulated area south of the city.
- The United States issued a Level 3 reconsider travel advisory for Saudi Arabia.
- International countries and organizations condemned the attack.
Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki condemned the act as a disgraceful attempt to terrorize civilians and pilgrims.
The security of the Two Holy Mosques remains a red line and he warned of necessary and deterrent measures against the Houthi militia. Saudi officials noted this as the second such incident since a 2017 ballistic-missile attack. Following the event,
Civil Defence alerts were activated across Mecca, Jeddah, and Taif.
The United States subsequently issued a Level 3 reconsider travel advisory for Saudi Arabia. International reactions included condemnation from Pakistan’s prime minister and India, along with statements of concern from Turkey, Kuwait, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The UAE Foreign Ministry characterized the targeting as a flagrant violation of Saudi sovereignty and pledged support for measures taken by Riyadh to protect its territory and religious sites. The Houthi movement denied the claims. Military spokesman Yahya Saree asserted that the group’s operations target military bases and oil facilities, not holy sites. Politburo member Hazem al-Assad dismissed the reports as fabrications. Separately, Saree claimed that Houthi forces shot down a Saudi F-15 over Marib using a surface-to-air missile and alleged that Saudi jets conducted 40 airstrikes on Taiz, Marib, and Hodeidah over a 24-hour period. Riyadh has not confirmed the loss of any aircraft.
This incident occurs amid a broader escalation in the Yemen conflict, which intensified in early September when Houthis seized Mocha and coastal areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Previous strikes have targeted pipelines and infrastructure in Yanbu, Jizan, and Khamis Mushait. Additionally, reports indicate explosions on Iran’s Qeshm Island, ongoing service disruptions by Amazon Web Services in Bahrain and the UAE, and an attack on a US-contracted vessel near the Strait of Hormuz involving drones and a missile. Despite reports of US intelligence sharing and claims by Donald Trump regarding potential dialogue with Tehran,
no formal ceasefire has been established, and UN-related diplomatic discussions are scheduled for next week.
