Saudi Arabia says it shot down Houthi drone south of Mecca

What the report says

Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday evening, according to the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. Turki al-Maliki described the reported targeting of the holy city as a “disgraceful act,” while the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation said attacks on Mecca and Medina province were an unacceptable violation.

The Houthis, who control much of western Yemen, denied aiming at Mecca and accused Saudi Arabia of spreading falsehoods. Their military spokesman said their attacks were directed at oil facilities and military sites, and claimed the group had responded to more than 450 Saudi air strikes over the previous week. Saudi officials gave brief security alerts for incoming projectiles in western areas including Mecca and Jeddah.

The exchange comes amid a wider escalation in Yemen and along the Red Sea shipping corridor. The Houthis have recently taken more territory on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including Mokha and Perim Island, and have intensified drone and missile attacks on Saudi targets. The BBC also reported that the United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on Tuesday as governments discussed ways to protect navigation and reduce further disruption to trade and humanitarian conditions.