Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone on Tuesday night as it approached prohibited airspace south of Mecca. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki characterized the attempted strike as a disgraceful act aimed at terrorizing civilians and pilgrims, warning that the security of the Two Holy Mosques remains a red line.
- Drone intercepted south of Mecca by Saudi air defenses on Tuesday night.
- Houthi militia denied the accusations and claimed they target only oil facilities and military bases.
- Global oil prices are trading near $108 a barrel amid rising regional tensions.
- Saudi warplanes conducted about 450 airstrikes across Yemen this week.
The Houthi militia denied the accusations, labeling them a nauseating lie and worn-out fabrication, with military spokesman Yahya Saree claiming their operations exclusively target Saudi oil facilities and military bases. The Houthis further asserted that they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib, a claim Riyadh has not confirmed. Regional tensions have intensified as Houthi forces recently seized the port of Mocha, Perim Island, and the Hanish islands near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This follows a drone strike last Friday launched from Iraqi territory that forced the shutdown of Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline.
Global oil prices are currently trading near $108 a barrel, with analysts warning that a prolonged outage could disrupt 4 percent of global supply.
In response, Saudi warplanes have conducted approximately 450 airstrikes across Yemen this week, targeting positions in Taiz, Hodeidah, al-Jawf, Marib, and Lahj. The Houthi-run health ministry reported three civilian deaths in Taiz, including two children. The Saudi-backed Yemeni government confirmed coalition military operations, though Riyadh has declined to verify the specific strike figures. Houthi media released footage purportedly showing their fighters seizing armored vehicles in al-Jawf on September 15, 2026.
International reactions include a tightened U.S. travel warning prohibiting government employees from approaching within 30 km of the Yemen border, and condemnations from the UAE and Pakistan. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation described the attempted attack on Mecca or Medina as an unacceptable and intolerable transgression. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts remain stalled; planned talks in Oman between Iran and Gulf states have been postponed due to disagreements regarding the status of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has traveled to Beijing to seek Chinese support amidst the ongoing conflict, which began in February following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
