Saudi-led coalition says it destroys Houthi drone south of Mecca - Reuters

**Saudi‑led coalition shoots down Houthi drone near Mecca**

Riyadh’s coalition forces said on Tuesday they intercepted and destroyed a Yemeni‑launched drone that was heading toward the airspace over the holy city of Mecca. According to a statement from the Saudi‑backed coalition, the unmanned aircraft was detected by air‑defence systems south of the city and was neutralised before it could pose a risk to civilians or the annual pilgrimage routes. The incident marks one of several recent attempts by Yemen’s Houthi movement to strike deep inside Saudi territory, a strategy that has intensified since the start of the conflict in 2015.

Saudi officials responded by reiterating a “red line” warning issued earlier this month, signalling that any future drone or missile attacks aimed at Mecca or other sacred sites would provoke a decisive military response. The kingdom’s Ministry of Defense noted that its air‑defence network remains on high alert, especially during the upcoming Hajj season when millions of pilgrims are expected to converge on the city. In parallel, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the attempted attack as “heinous,” calling on all parties to respect the sanctity of Islamic holy places and to refrain from actions that could endanger worshippers.

The Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have repeatedly claimed that they target Saudi infrastructure in retaliation for what they describe as Saudi aggression in Yemen. While the coalition has not disclosed the drone’s payload or exact flight path, analysts suggest that the weapon could have been a surveillance or loitering munition capable of delivering explosives. The downing of the drone underscores the broader regional dimension of the Yemen war, where proxy confrontations and the protection of religious sites intersect with an ongoing humanitarian crisis that has displaced millions and strained diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire.