Saudi Arabia's military coalition has accused Yemen's Houthi movement of attempting to target the holy city of Mecca with a drone, an allegation the Iran-aligned group has dismissed as false.
The incident marks a fresh escalation in the Yemen conflict, which has intensified in recent months alongside broader regional tensions in the Middle East.
Saudi coalition says drone was intercepted
According to the Saudi-led coalition, air defence forces intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by the Houthis before it entered the restricted airspace surrounding Mecca.
In a statement, coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said the drone was intercepted south of the city and condemned what he described as attempts to undermine security and endanger pilgrims and residents.
The coalition alleged that the aircraft had been launched by the Houthi movement, formally known as Ansar Allah.
Houthis reject accusation
The Houthis swiftly denied the claim.
Writing on X, Hazem al-Assad, a member of the movement's political bureau, described accusations that the group had targeted Mecca as a "recycled lie" that had been used before and no longer convinced anyone.
The movement has not provided further details about the drone incident.
Islamic body condemns alleged attack
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned what it described as attacks against the areas of Mecca and Medina, as well as continued strikes against Saudi Arabia.
In a statement, the OIC said such actions violate the sanctity of Islam's holiest sites and offend Muslims around the world.
Conflict continues to intensify
Saudi authorities reportedly activated air raid alerts in parts of the south of the kingdom bordering Yemen, including an alert linked to Mecca, a development reported to be unprecedented since the start of the conflict.
The latest accusations come as the war in Yemen continues to widen. Earlier this month, Houthi forces seized Yemen's western Red Sea coastline, including territory overlooking the strategically important Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world's most critical maritime routes.
The Houthis have also accused Saudi forces of carrying out dozens of air strikes over the past 24 hours against civilian infrastructure in several Yemeni provinces.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the strikes would not go unanswered, claiming that more than 300 attacks had been carried out over five days.
Regional tensions remain high
The renewed exchange of accusations underscores growing instability across the Arabian Peninsula and the wider region.
With the conflict in Yemen increasingly intersecting with broader regional rivalries, concerns continue to mount over the security of key shipping lanes, civilian infrastructure and religious sites.
