Saudi Arabia Accuses Houthis of Targeting Mecca, Warns of Retaliation

Saudi Arabia Accuses Houthis of Targeting Mecca, Warns of Retaliation
Saudi Arabia has accused Yemen’s Houthi rebels of targeting the holy city of Mecca, warning that any threat to the city and the millions of pilgrims who visit it would cross a “red line.”

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-backed Houthis said on Wednesday that it had intercepted and destroyed a drone allegedly heading towards Mecca, home to the Kaaba and Islam’s holiest site.

The Houthis, however, denied the allegation, describing Riyadh’s claim as a “lie” and insisting that they had not targeted Mecca.

Hazem al-Assad, a member of the Houthi political bureau, said on X that claims that the group had targeted Mecca were an old accusation that no longer convinced anyone.

Despite the reported incident, residents in Mecca said life remained largely normal, although the security alerts caused some panic.

“I saw a few people panicking and running to the window to see what happened,” one resident told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Another resident said the incident had caused fear and surprise, questioning why anyone would target the holiest city in Islam.

Saudi Arabia said it had previously accused the Houthis of launching attacks towards Mecca during an earlier phase of the conflict.

The Saudi-led coalition subsequently warned that it would respond firmly to any threat against the holy sites.

“The security of the Two Holy Mosques and the pilgrims is a red line,” the coalition said, adding that it would take what it described as necessary and deterrent measures against the Houthi militia.

Saudi authorities had issued brief alerts on Tuesday warning of possible attacks in Mecca and parts of the country’s southern regions.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which represents 57 Muslim-majority countries, also condemned what it described as attacks targeting Mecca and the Madinah region.

Mecca has a large security presence, particularly during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, when authorities deploy security personnel to manage huge crowds and protect the holy sites.

During this year’s Hajj, Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry released footage showing advanced air-defence systems deployed around the outskirts of Mecca.

Renewed Yemen Conflict

The latest tensions are linked to renewed fighting in Yemen, where the Houthis launched a major offensive against government forces in July.

The Houthis have controlled large parts of northern Yemen for years, while the internationally recognised government has received backing from Saudi Arabia.

According to the United Nations, about 82,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since the beginning of September as fighting has intensified.

Yemen’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Abdullah al-Saadi, said government forces were fighting to restore national institutions throughout the country and called on the international community to take action against the Houthis.

The renewed conflict has also raised concerns about maritime security in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt have called for freedom and security of navigation through both the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi made the call amid growing concerns over disruptions to major global shipping routes.

The Houthis have declared restrictions on Saudi-linked shipping but insist that they do not intend to threaten navigation generally.

However, any sustained disruption in the Bab al-Mandab Strait could have significant consequences for international trade, Egypt’s Suez Canal revenues and global energy markets.

The Red Sea provides an important route to the Suez Canal, a major source of foreign revenue for Egypt.

Canal revenues have reportedly fallen sharply since Houthi attacks on commercial shipping began in 2023.

Qatar on Tuesday warned that a complete closure of the Bab al-Mandab Strait would have consequences that could be “catastrophic for the entire world.”

The Houthis have also attacked oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, contributing to renewed pressure on global crude prices.

Saudi retaliatory strikes have so far failed to reverse some of the recent territorial gains claimed by the Houthis, who on Wednesday said they had shot down a Saudi fighter jet.

Meanwhile, a US military task force is assisting Saudi forces with intelligence-sharing and planning, according to a US official cited by AFP.

The renewed violence has raised fears of a wider regional escalation, particularly because of the strategic importance of the Red Sea and the proximity of the conflict to some of Islam’s most important holy sites.

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