Saudi coalition foils Iran-backed Houthi drone attack on holy city of Makkah
By The South Asia Times
JEDDAH - Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone south of holy city of Makkah before it entered the restricted airspace over Islam’s holiest city, the Saudi-led coalition said on Wednesday.
The coalition said the drone was launched by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi terrorist group and was intercepted at about 6:50 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki described the incident as the second reported Houthi attempt to target Makkah, following a ballistic-missile incident in July 2017.
According to The Middle East, the coalition said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a “red line” and warned that its Joint Forces Command would take necessary deterrent measures against what it described as Houthi “aggressive and terrorist” conduct.
The Houthis, however, denied the attack.
Makkah is home to the Grand Mosque and the Kaaba and attracts millions of Muslim pilgrims during Hajj and throughout the year. Makkah and Madina, both are red-lines for Muslims across the world.
The reported interception comes amid heightened regional tensions and a recent increase in Houthi attacks involving Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea region.
