Houthi Drone Downed Near Makkah: Saudi Arabia Issues ‘Red Line’ Warning

A Houthi drone hit Saudi Arabia’s air defence system and was destroyed on Tuesday, September 15, before entering into prohibited airspace above Islam’s holiest city of Makkah, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, a spokesman for the Saudi-led anti-Houthi war coalition, said.

The incident comes at a time of increased regional tensions and in the wake of a number of attacks attributed to the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen. In a further blow to Saudi’s security, there have been three escalating warnings raised around various regions due to ongoing cross-border threats.

Saudi Coalition Declares Security of Holy Sites a ‘Red Line’

Saudi Arabia continues to see the security of the Two Holy Mosques and Pilgrims as a ‘red line,” Al-Maliki said. If there should be any threats to the Kingdom in the future, he said the coalition would be taking necessary deterrent action.

Muslims have unique religious importance given to Makkah. Islam’s holiest landmarks lie in the city, and it is also the center of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, a destination for millions of Muslims from all over the world.

The drone was intercepted south of Makkah before entering into restricted airspace. Saudi Arabia already has a history of attempts to attack the holy city, including July 2017’s ballistic missile launch.

Houthis Reject Saudi Claim

The Saudi assisted the coalition in its narrative of the clash with the Houthis.The Saudis were able to tell its story on the clash with Houthis. Zayed-backed opposition are lying and manufacturing “false and fabricated” rumors,” Hazem Al-Assad, a spokesman for Yemen’s Houthi Movement, stated on X.

The inconsistencies highlight the wider information war raging over the spiraling war in Yemen. In the face of rising security concerns, Saudi authorities have consistently emphasized civilian areas as well as religious sites are under protection.

OIC Condemns Alleged Attack on Makkah

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), an organisation of 57 Muslim countries, denounced the “heinous” attack and offered condolences to Saudi Arabia.

There has been concern over a week of reported attacks by Houthis against Saudi targets, including an attack on an airbase that the Houthis say they made in response to “Saudi-led airstrikes” in Yemen.

Rising Regional Security Concerns

The most recent development follows a series of attacks on ships in the Red Sea coast by the Houthis, who have been increasing their footprint throughout areas of access on the eastern seaboard of Yemen adjacent to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s strategically vital waterways.

The group has also made several attacks in recent days on Saudi Arabia. This development has raised concerns about the security of the kingdom, its vital infrastructure and the major religious landmarks.

The travel advisory by the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia mentioned risks of missile and drone attacks, armed conflict and terrorism among others which made it advisable to rethink travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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