Saudi Arabia reports interception of Houthi drone targeting Mecca

What the report says

Saudi Arabia’s coalition in Yemen said on Friday that it intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement toward the Mecca region, according to Al Jazeera’s reporting based on coalition statements. Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki said the drone was brought down in the morning, and the same account also said a missile aimed at western Saudi Arabia had previously been intercepted. The report said the incident comes amid an escalating exchange of attacks between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the Iran-aligned Houthis.

The Houthis rejected the allegation that they targeted Mecca or its surrounding area. In comments cited by Al Jazeera, a Houthi spokesman said the group’s cross-border strikes are aimed at Saudi oil facilities and military infrastructure rather than holy sites. The Saudi-led coalition has made similar accusations before, including claims that Houthi drones were launched toward Mecca and Medina.

The latest episode follows other recent interceptions reported by the coalition, including ballistic missiles said to have been fired toward Saudi Arabia’s eastern region and Riyadh. The back-and-forth highlights how the conflict in Yemen continues to spill across the border, raising regional security concerns and adding pressure on civilians already affected by the war. Humanitarian agencies have warned that continued fighting is worsening conditions on the ground.