Saudi Arabia Accuses Houthis of 'Red Line' Attack on Mecca, Drawing Muslim World Outrage

Saudi Arabia has accused Houthi rebels of a "red line" drone attack near the holy city of Mecca, stating that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of the city on Tuesday evening. Colonel Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, condemned the incident as a "disgraceful act," emphasizing that the security of Islam's holiest sites and pilgrims is a "red line" that will not be crossed. This marks what Saudi authorities claim is the second attempted Houthi attack targeting Mecca, following a ballistic missile launch in 2017.

The Iranian-backed Houthi group, however, swiftly denied the Saudi accusations, labeling them as "fabrications and lies" and a "worn-out lie that has been used before and no longer fools anyone." This alleged incident comes amid a recent escalation in the conflict, with Houthis intensifying drone and missile attacks against various Saudi targets, including oil facilities and other cities, in response to Saudi airstrikes in Yemen. The rebels have also recently gained control of strategic areas along Yemen's Red Sea coast.

The reported attack near Mecca has drawn widespread condemnation from across the Muslim world. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), representing 57 Muslim-majority countries, joined several nations in denouncing the alleged targeting of the holy city, asserting that any such attempt violates the sanctity of holy sites.