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The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen reported that Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces intercepted the hostile drone at 6:50 p.m. on Tuesday before it reached restricted airspace around Makkah. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki issued a detailed statement through the Saudi Press Agency describing the drone’s interception south of the city. Al-Maliki noted that the incident marked the second Houthi attempt to target Makkah, following a ballistic missile launch attributed to the group on July 27, 2017.
In his statement, Al-Maliki condemned the launch as a disgraceful act aimed at the birthplace of revelation and a site revered by millions of Muslims around the world. He added that the drone sought to terrorize Umrah performers visiting the Grand Mosque in peace while endangering citizens and residents in the area. The spokesman characterized the action as a deliberate provocation that would stain the record of the extremist Houthi militia.
Al-Maliki declared the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims a red line, according to the coalition announcement. The Joint Forces Command stated it would not hesitate to take necessary and deterrent measures in response to the militia’s hostile behavior. Saudi authorities had earlier issued alerts for Makkah and lifted them once the threat passed, civil defense officials confirmed at the time.
Reuters reported that Houthi officials rejected the accusation, with a political bureau member describing claims of targeting Makkah as an outright lie disseminated through the group’s SABA news agency. The denial came hours after the coalition’s statement amid a week of escalated attacks by the Iran-aligned fighters that have pulled Saudi Arabia further into regional fighting. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree separately claimed his forces downed a Saudi F-15 jet over Marib on the same day, though the coalition has not addressed that assertion.
The coalition’s intervention in Yemen began in 2015 to back the internationally recognized government against the Houthis, who control large parts of the country including sections of the Red Sea coast. Previous coalition assessments have indicated that Saudi defenses have intercepted the majority of drones and missiles directed at the kingdom since the conflict started. Makkah’s status as the focal point of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which draws millions of visitors each year, adds a layer of religious sensitivity to any reported threats against it.
Al-Maliki’s statement reiterated that the latest attempt would not go unanswered, framing it within a pattern of Houthi violations. The coalition continues to monitor activities by the militia, which has expanded operations in the Red Sea amid wider Middle East tensions. Officials have urged residents to follow safety instructions from civil defense authorities following such incidents.
