Saudi forces report intercepting Houthi drone near Mecca as rebels deny attack

Saudi Arabian defense forces intercepted and neutralized an unmanned aerial vehicle sent by Houthi insurgents from Yemen close to Mecca, according to a coalition announcement made on Friday.

The incident was confirmed by coalition representative Major General Turki al-Malki, who stated that the device was brought down within the administrative territory that encompasses Mecca. The city represents the most sacred location in the Islamic faith and welcomes millions of religious travelers from around the globe annually.

The Houthi movement quickly rejected the assertion that it had directed an attack toward the holy sanctuary. Yahya Saree, speaking on behalf of the Houthi armed forces, released a statement clarifying that the faction did not conduct any hostile maneuvers directed at Mecca.

Saree emphasized that his organization limits its strikes to different types of strategic targets within the kingdom. According to the Houthi spokesperson, their operations focus strictly on Saudi military infrastructure and energy facilities rather than religious sites.

The opposing accounts underscore the continuous friction between the Saudi-led military alliance and the Tehran-aligned Houthi faction, which have traded repeated allegations regarding cross-border strikes during the prolonged regional conflict.