Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Mecca Receives First Air-Raid Alert as Houthis Target Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia briefly warned people in Mecca and nearby areas about possible attacks.
The warnings were also issued around Jeddah and Taif.
Officials soon said the danger had passed.
Reports differed on whether this was Mecca’s first-ever alert or its first since the Middle East war began.
The warnings came after Houthi missiles and drones from Yemen injured 13 people in Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis also claimed to have attacked a Saudi airbase with many missiles and drones.
Saudi-backed forces reportedly struck targets near Taiz in Yemen.
The fighting could affect ships using the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab strait.
Saudi Civil Defence issued brief attack alerts in Mecca, Jeddah and Taif, among other western areas.
The Mecca alert was described as unprecedented, although one report said it was the first since the Middle East war began.
The warnings were quickly lifted after officials said the danger had passed and urged residents to follow safety instructions.
The alerts followed Houthi missile and drone attacks from Yemen that reportedly injured 13 people in southern Saudi Arabia.
The wider escalation has raised concerns about Red Sea shipping and the possible closure of the Bab al-Mandab strait.
- Who
- Saudi Civil Defence, Saudi Arabia, the Houthi movement and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces are central to the reports; Qatar and the United States were also mentioned.
- What
- Saudi Arabia issued and quickly lifted aerial-threat alerts in Mecca, Jeddah, Taif and other areas after recent Houthi attacks.
- When
- The alerts were issued on Tuesday, one day after missile and drone attacks reportedly injured 13 people in Saudi Arabia.
- Where
- The alerts covered Mecca, Jeddah, Taif and other western Saudi regions; the broader fighting involves Yemen and the Red Sea.
- Why
- The warnings followed repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks and renewed fighting involving Saudi-backed forces.
Saudi and allied account
Houthi account
Responsibility for escalation
Saudi and allied account
Saudi Arabia and its allies are responding to repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks and fighting with Saudi-backed government forces.
Houthi account
Houthi official Hazem al-Assad said the group’s response would continue and escalate while Saudi Arabia persisted in what he called aggression against Yemenis.
Military actions
Saudi and allied account
Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and Saudi forces reportedly struck targets near Taiz, while Saudi Civil Defence issued warnings in response to aerial threats.
Houthi account
The Houthis claimed a large-scale attack involving ballistic missiles and drones against King Khalid airbase in southern Saudi Arabia.
International involvement
Saudi and allied account
The Saudi crown prince reportedly asked the United States to intervene in the war.
Houthi account
Donald Trump said Washington would not get involved and claimed the Houthis had asked the United States not to intervene.
- Alert locations
- Mecca, Jeddah, Taif and six Saudi regions were mentioned.
- Alert status
- The warnings were brief and were quickly lifted after officials said the danger had passed.
- Reported injuries
- Missile and drone attacks from Yemen reportedly injured 13 people in southern Saudi Arabia.
- Houthi claim
- The Houthis said they used dozens of ballistic missiles and drones against King Khalid airbase in Khamis Mushait.
- Other reported casualties
- A Houthi attack in western Yemen reportedly killed eight government soldiers, while an earlier Saudi attack reportedly wounded 73 and set oil sites ablaze.
- Shipping concern
- Qatar warned that closing the Bab al-Mandab strait would be catastrophic for the world.
- United States position
- US President Donald Trump said he rejected a request from the Saudi crown prince to intervene.
