Saudi Arabia says it intercepted Houthi drone near Mecca as rebels deny accusation

Saudi Arabia says its air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered prohibited airspace, while the Houthis denied launching an attack. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the alleged incident, as reports also described explosions on Iran’s Qeshm island and a possible US arms package for Israel.

Saudi Arabia says its air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday. The Saudi-led military coalition said the aircraft was stopped before it entered prohibited airspace over the holy city, while Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement denied responsibility for the alleged attack.

Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki said the security of Islam’s two holiest sites and of pilgrims was a “red line”. He said the coalition would take necessary deterrent measures against the Houthis, according to the supplied France 24 report.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned what it described as a “heinous” Houthi attack on Mecca and the Medina region. In a statement posted on X, the organisation also accused the group of continuing aggression against Saudi Arabia. The supplied material does not provide independent confirmation of the Saudi account.

Mecca contains shrines sacred to Muslims worldwide and is the focal point of the annual hajj pilgrimage. Al-Malki described the reported drone incident as the second Houthi attempt to target the city, referring to a ballistic missile launch that the coalition said took place in July 2017.

The wider regional situation remained unsettled. Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported that several explosions were heard on Qeshm island near the Strait of Hormuz, citing local sources who said the sounds appeared to have come from the direction of the sea. The supplied report gives no further details about the cause or any casualties.

Separately, US media reported that Washington was on track to approve a $2.8 billion arms package for Israel. The Washington Post said the proposed sale included 40,000 one-ton bombs and other munitions, while The New York Times reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump had approved it, citing a US official. A senior administration official and a State Department spokesperson declined to confirm pending arms sales, saying such transactions followed the appropriate process and were not confirmed before formal notification to Congress.