Daijiworld Media Network – Riyadh

Riyadh, Sep 16: Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Mecca before it could enter the holy city’s restricted airspace, as tensions with Yemen’s Houthi group continued to escalate.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said the drone was heading towards Mecca, Islam’s holiest city. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned what it described as a “heinous” attack.

The Houthis rejected the Saudi account. Houthi official Hazem al-Assad described the claim that the drone was heading towards Mecca as a “worn-out lie”, according to AFP.

The incident came after Saudi Civil Defence issued temporary alerts across several cities on the western coast, including Mecca, Jeddah and Taif. The alerts were later lifted.

Reports said the aerial threat warning was issued in Mecca for the first time. Saudi Civil Defence subsequently said the danger had passed and urged residents to follow safety instructions and avoid gatherings and filming.

The alerts came a day after Houthi forces reportedly wounded 13 people in Saudi Arabia in an attack involving ballistic missiles and drones launched from Yemen.

The Saudi-led coalition described the latest incident as the second attempt to target Mecca. Saudi officials have previously linked an earlier missile launch to an alleged attempt to strike the holy city.

Meanwhile, the OIC condemned the reported incident and expressed support for Saudi Arabia amid the escalation.

The latest developments come amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. The Houthis reportedly launched a major missile and drone attack against Saudi Arabia this week, with attacks causing damage to oil facilities and leaving dozens of people injured.

On Monday, a Houthi strike in western Yemen reportedly killed eight government soldiers, according to military sources. The group also claimed an attack involving ballistic missiles and drones targeting King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait in southern Saudi Arabia.

The renewed hostilities have also raised concerns over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Qatar warned that any closure of the strategic waterway could have serious consequences for global trade.

US President Donald Trump has also said he rejected a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to intervene in the conflict. The latest escalation comes as Saudi Arabia assesses its response to renewed Houthi attacks and the widening regional tensions.