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Saudi Arabia Accuses Houthis of Targeting Mecca; Houthis Deny Attack
Saudi Arabia says Yemen’s Houthi rebels tried to send a drone toward Mecca.
Mecca is an important holy city for Muslims.
Saudi officials say they destroyed the drone before it entered the city’s airspace.
The Houthis say they did not launch a drone at Mecca.
Several countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the alleged attack.
Saudi Arabia has not asked Turkey or Pakistan for military help, according to officials from those countries.
The United States says it is talking with both sides but does not currently want to join the fighting.
The Houthis also said they destroyed a Saudi-led coalition fighter jet, but nobody has independently confirmed that claim.
The conflict is affecting oil infrastructure and shipping in the region.
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed a drone allegedly headed toward Mecca, while the Houthis denied launching it.
The Houthis are backed by Iran and have reportedly attacked Saudi infrastructure and Red Sea shipping.
Turkey and Pakistan said Saudi Arabia had not requested military assistance under their new defense pact.
The United States said it was monitoring the situation and had spoken with both Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.
The Houthis separately claimed they shot down a Saudi-led coalition F-15, but provided no evidence and the claim was not independently verified.
- Who
- Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels are the main parties; Iran, the United States, Turkey, Pakistan, and regional organizations are also involved diplomatically or indirectly.
- What
- Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of attempting a drone attack on Mecca, while the Houthis denied responsibility.
- Where
- The alleged target was Mecca in Saudi Arabia, about 1,100 kilometers from Yemen’s border; the wider conflict includes Yemen, Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea, and the Strait of Hormuz.
- When
- The alleged drone incident occurred overnight; the separate F-15 claim was made later on Wednesday.
- Why
- Saudi Arabia says the drone represented a threat to the holy city amid escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure and regional shipping.
Saudi Arabia and Supporters
Houthi Rebels
Drone attack on Mecca
Saudi Arabia and Supporters
Saudi Arabia says the Houthis launched a drone toward Mecca and that Saudi forces intercepted and destroyed it before it entered the city’s airspace.
Houthi Rebels
The Houthis deny firing drones toward Mecca and reject the Saudi accusation.
Regional security response
Saudi Arabia and Supporters
Saudi Arabia has called Mecca a red line, while Pakistan, Turkey, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the alleged attack or expressed support for Saudi Arabia.
Houthi Rebels
The Houthis have continued making military claims against the Saudi-led coalition and say they are focused on the conflict with Saudi Arabia and its allies.
Claimed fighter-jet incident
Saudi Arabia and Supporters
Saudi authorities and the Saudi-led coalition did not immediately comment on the Houthi claim that an F-15 was shot down.
Houthi Rebels
The Houthis claimed they shot down a Saudi-led coalition F-15 over Marib, but offered no evidence and the claim could not be independently verified.
Key facts
- Alleged target
- Mecca, Saudi Arabia
- Saudi claim
- Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed a drone before it entered Mecca’s airspace.
- Houthi response
- The Houthis denied firing drones toward Mecca.
- Previous reported incident
- Saudi officials described this as the second attempted Houthi attack against Mecca, after a 2017 ballistic-missile incident.
- Potential allies
- Officials said Turkey and Pakistan had not received a Saudi request for military support.
- U.S. position
- U.S. officials said Washington was in contact with Saudi Arabia and the Houthis and was monitoring the situation.
- Separate military claim
- The Houthis claimed they shot down an F-15 over Yemen’s Marib province; the claim was not independently verified.
Quotes
Donald Trump
President of the United States
“The Houthis called us, and they don’t want to fight with us.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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