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The General Directorate of Civil Defence announced Tuesday that the potential danger had passed in Makkah, Jeddah and Taif after the areas received brief warning alerts via the National Early Warning Platform for Emergencies. Saudi Civil Defence posted successive updates on its official X account confirming the all-clear for each location in turn, first for Taif Governorate, then Jeddah Governorate and finally Mecca City. The authority instructed residents to continue following civil defence guidelines, avoid all gatherings and filming, and contact emergency services at 911 if any issues arose. This marked the first such alert for Makkah during the current period of heightened tensions.
Saudi Civil Defence had activated the alerts earlier Tuesday after detecting a possible threat, directing people to seek immediate shelter inside buildings or interior rooms away from windows and to remain there until further notice. The directorate advised motorists receiving the messages to pull over away from bridges and tall structures while urging the public to refrain from spreading rumours or visiting affected zones. According to the authority’s established protocols, such warnings form part of a tiered siren system tested periodically to ensure readiness, with a steady intermittent tone signalling impending risk for a 60-second duration.
The Saudi Council of Ministers condemned what it described as continued Houthi militia attacks on civilian targets and infrastructure, according to statements carried by the Saudi Press Agency during a session chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The cabinet affirmed the kingdom’s legitimate right to self-defence and to protect its sovereignty, citizens, residents and vital interests under the UN Charter and international law. This position follows a pattern of Houthi actions that have included ballistic missile and drone strikes on multiple Saudi regions in recent days.
A series of Houthi attacks earlier in the week struck southern areas and energy infrastructure, injuring 13 people and damaging the East-West pipeline, Reuters reports indicated. The Iran-aligned group has increased operations along the Red Sea coast toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait while targeting Saudi cities in response to regional conflicts. Saudi Civil Defence had issued similar all-clear notices for other locations including Yanbu, Abha, Jazan and AlUla in the preceding 24 hours as part of the same wave of alerts.
The National Early Warning Platform serves as the primary digital channel for broadcasting such emergency notifications across the kingdom, with Saudi Civil Defence emphasising calm compliance and reliance on official channels only. In prior explanations of the system, the directorate outlined three distinct siren tones, including an all-clear signal that follows resolution of any threat. Residents in the affected western provinces returned to normal activities after the latest announcements, though the authority continued to stress preparedness given ongoing regional volatility.
Public Authority for Civil Defence guidelines, reiterated in the Tuesday alerts, require people outdoors during warnings to enter the nearest solid structure or take cover behind barriers while avoiding balconies, rooftops and glass-heavy areas. The directorate has conducted multiple test cycles of the platform throughout 2026 to verify functionality, particularly in the holy cities that host millions of pilgrims annually. These measures align with broader efforts to safeguard key urban and religious sites amid external security pressures.
