Riyadh: Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Mecca on Tuesday evening before it entered the prohibited airspace over the holy city, in the latest escalation between the kingdom and Yemen's Houthi movement.
The Saudi led military coalition said the drone was launched by the Houthis and was intercepted at about 6:50 p.m. local time on September 15. Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al Malki said the drone was destroyed before it could enter the prohibited airspace around Mecca.
Al Malki described the incident as the second Houthi attempt to target Mecca, referring to an earlier ballistic missile launch on July 27, 2017. He said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a red line and warned that the coalition would take necessary measures to deter further attacks.
The Houthis, however, have denied targeting Mecca or other Islamic holy sites. Houthi officials rejected the Saudi allegation and said the group does not target Islamic holy sites.
There were no reports of damage to the Grand Mosque, the Kaaba or other holy sites in Mecca. Saudi authorities said the drone was destroyed before entering the city's prohibited airspace.
The incident came after Saudi Arabia issued security alerts across several parts of the country on Tuesday, including Mecca, Jeddah and Taif. The alerts were later lifted.
The latest incident is part of a wider increase in Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia. The Houthis have claimed several attacks against Saudi targets, including military facilities, while Saudi Arabia has accused the group of targeting civilian and economic infrastructure.
According to the United Nations, the Saudi coalition said 13 people were injured and seven residences were damaged in Houthi missile and drone strikes on September 14 in Abha, Khamis Mushait and Taif.
The attacks have added to growing concerns about the spread of the conflict beyond Yemen.
The escalation is also taking place along Yemen's Red Sea coast. The United Nations said fighting had intensified along Yemen's western coast as the Houthis continued their advance towards the Bab el Mandeb Strait. It said the Houthis had reportedly captured several islands in the southern Red Sea.
The Bab el Mandeb is a strategically important waterway linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The route is important for international trade and shipping between Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
The United Nations has warned all parties to protect civilians, respect international humanitarian law and ensure that humanitarian assistance can reach people in need.
The situation around the Bab el Mandeb has also raised concerns about international shipping. The United Nations said commercial shipping through the Red Sea appeared to remain unaffected for the time being, but warned that the Houthi advance had increased concerns about the security of the waterway.
The renewed attacks are also affecting Saudi Arabia's energy security. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia said several drones targeted its East West oil pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions. The Saudi government said the drones were launched from an area inside Iraq.
The attack forced the pipeline to shut down for repairs and disrupted an important alternative route for Saudi oil exports at a time when shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was facing major disruption.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also travelled to Egypt and met President Abdel Fattah el Sisi as Riyadh sought wider regional support amid the escalation.
The Mecca incident carries particular significance because the city is home to the Kaaba and the Grand Mosque, Islam's most sacred site. Mecca is also the destination for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Saudi Arabia's description of the drone as an attempted attack on Mecca remains disputed by the Houthis. What is established is that Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone south of the city before it entered the prohibited airspace, according to Saudi authorities.
The incident adds another dimension to the escalating conflict involving the Houthis, Saudi Arabia and other regional powers, while questions remain over the future course of the fighting and the security of important routes through the Red Sea.