Royal Saudi Air Defence forces destroyed an unmanned drone south of Mecca on Tuesday evening, preventing it from entering restricted airspace over the Grand Mosque.
- Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki described the incident as a cowardly attempt to terrorize civilians and worshippers.
- Officials confirmed debris fell in an unpopulated area.
- Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree dismissed the Saudi claims as fabrications and lies.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident as a violation of Saudi sovereignty, with support also coming from Pakistan, India, Kuwait, Egypt, Turkiye, Syria, the Arab League, Al-Azhar, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
The conflict coincides with Houthi gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, specifically the port of Mokha and islands near the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Houthi media reported that Saudi jets conducted 40 sorties against Taiz, Marib, and Hodeidah, resulting in damage to telecom towers and at least one civilian death in Abs.
Energy markets have responded to the instability, with Brent crude fluctuating around $100 per barrel.
Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline remains shut following a previous drone attack blamed on Iran-backed fighters in Iraq. Diplomatic efforts, including an Oman-hosted meeting regarding the Strait of Hormuz, have been postponed following objections from Bahrain and a requested delay from Saudi Arabia.
