Saudi Arabia says it shot down drone launched by Houthis toward Mecca

Saudi Arabia has announced that a drone launched by the Houthis toward Mecca was shot down and destroyed, Al Jazeera reports.

Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, stated that the Royal Saudi Air Force intercepted the drone before it entered the no-fly zone.

Al-Maliki condemned the incident, warning that the security of the two holy mosques and of pilgrims is a “red line.”

Earlier, Saudi Arabia issued a security warning concerning the holy city of Mecca, marking the first Houthi attempt to strike it since 2017. According to the Houthi-owned Al Masirah television channel, the movement’s military spokesman, Yahya Saree, categorically denied claims that they pose a threat to the city of Mecca or other Islamic holy sites.