Saudi Arabia Says Houthi Drone Intercepted Near Makkah; Houthis Deny Targeting Holy City
Published On 16 Sep, 2026
According to Arab News, Saudi air defences intercepted the drone as it attempted to enter the airspace of Makkah, in what the coalition described as a major escalation by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
“The security of Islam’s two holiest sites and the safety of pilgrims are a red line,” coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki said early Wednesday, adding that the coalition would take necessary deterrent measures against the Houthis.
Al-Malki described the incident as the second alleged Houthi attempt to target Makkah, following what the coalition said was a ballistic missile launch toward the holy city in July 2017.
The Houthis, however, denied targeting Makkah. Houthi spokesperson Hazem al-Assad rejected the Saudi claim on Wednesday, writing on X: “The claims about targeting Makkah are a worn-out lie that has been used before and no longer fools anyone.”
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned what it described as a “heinous” attack on Makkah and blamed the Houthis. The 57-member organisation also denounced what it called the “ongoing aggression against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Saudi Arabia issued security alerts across parts of the country on Tuesday, including Makkah and other cities, following a week of attacks by Iran-aligned fighters that have drawn the kingdom deeper into the wider Middle East conflict.
