Saudi Arabia says it shot down a Houthi drone near Mecca, Islam’s holiest city
By Eyad Kourdi, Jessie Yeung, and Ibrahim Dahman, CNN
(CNN) — Saudi Arabia said it shot down a Houthi drone on the outskirts of Islam’s holiest city Mecca on Tuesday –– prompting swift regional condemnation of the Iran-backed Yemeni rebel group.
It’s the first time that the Houthis have targeted Mecca in almost a decade, since a ballistic missile attack was intercepted in 2017, according to Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led Coalition Forces.
The Houthis quickly denied threatening Mecca, with military spokesman Yahya Saree saying early Wednesday that its targets were Saudi oil facilities and military bases “far removed from the holy places.”
The rebel group’s swift advance in Yemen and attacks on neighboring Saudi Arabia in recent weeks have put the Gulf Arab kingdom in a increasingly difficult position, facing the prospect of being drawn into a wider conflict, as the US-Iran war drags on.
Mecca is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. All Muslims worldwide are required, if they are able, to make the pilgrimage to the holy city at least once in their life, with millions making the journey each year.
“This hostile attempt will also remain a black mark in the record of violations by the extremist terrorist Houthi militia, as a deliberate act intended to provoke the feelings of millions of Muslims,” Al-Maliki said in a post on X, vowing to take the “necessary and deterrent measures” against the militants.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a 57-member body representing 1.5 billion Muslims, also condemned the attempted attack, saying the attempted strikes “violate the sanctity of holy sites and mosques” and “instill fear in innocent civilians.”
The prime minister of Pakistan –– which recently recently signed a joint defense agreement with Saudi Arabia –– called it a “dastardly and heinous” act. While Shehbaz Sharif did not mention the Houthis in his statement, he affirmed his country’s support for the Gulf Kingdom.
The attack comes amid a flurry of fighting. The Houthis launched ballistic missiles and drones at several Saudi Arabian cities earlier this week, including Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif, injuring 13 civilians. And on Sunday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on a Saudi military base.
In response, Saudi forces launched airstrikes across Houthi-held areas of Yemen last Saturday and this Tuesday, according to the Houthis.
The Houthis have recently stepped up their fighting against Yemen’s Saudi-backed government and have expanded their area of control. Last week they captured a Red Sea port city in Yemen and an island near an important waterway that has, for months, acted as a backup to the Strait of Hormuz, allowing for the export of Saudi oil and refined products.
That tightening grip over shipping in the Red Sea has fueled fears that the main escape valves for the region’s oil are slamming shut, as Iran and the US continue battling for control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices climbed back above the $100 per barrel mark last week following further US strikes on Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf and the fighting in Yemen – sparking protests around the world as people demand government action and economic relief.
The-CNN-Wire
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