Saudi Arabia says Houthi drone was downed near Mecca airspace

CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Saudi Arabia has reported that a Houthi drone was shot down near Mecca. According to a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, Royal Saudi Air Defense intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Mecca on Tuesday evening. Officials said the drone was stopped before it could enter Mecca’s restricted airspace.

Following the incident, Saudi Arabia issued a security alert in some areas, including Mecca, Jeddah and Taif. Reports said this was the first such emergency security alert issued in Mecca during the recent conflict. The alert was lifted shortly afterward. The Saudi coalition spokesperson described the security of Mecca and the two holy mosques as a “red line” and warned that necessary steps would be taken against Houthi attacks. Saudi officials described it as the Houthis’ second attempt to target Mecca. Earlier, in 2017, there had also been an incident in which a ballistic missile was fired toward Mecca. However, Houthi military sources have categorically denied targeting Mecca or any other Islamic holy site. The Houthi side rejected the Saudi claim as false, saying there is no threat from Yemen to Mecca or other holy sites.

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