Mecca: Saudi Arabia issued a security alert in the holy city of Mecca after its air defences intercepted a drone south of the city, amid a sharp escalation in fighting with Yemen’s Houthi movement.
The alert was lifted within minutes, but the incident has raised serious security concerns because of its proximity to Islam’s holiest city. Saudi authorities said the drone was destroyed before it entered the restricted airspace over Mecca. The Houthis, however, denied targeting the holy city or any Islamic sacred site. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Saudi coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Malki said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a “red line”. He described the incident as the second reported Houthi attempt to target Mecca, following a ballistic missile incident in July 2017.
The latest escalation is also putting renewed attention on Pakistan’s newly established defence arrangement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Saudi Arabia Reportedly Seeks Israeli Intelligence Support
Amid the growing Houthi threat, reports have emerged that Saudi Arabia has sought Israeli assistance through the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
The Jerusalem Post, citing regional diplomatic sources, reported that Saudi and Israeli officials held discussions focused on intelligence support. The reported assistance would help Riyadh develop a clearer picture of Houthi military deployments and assess possible future operations.
Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations. Riyadh has previously linked any normalisation agreement with Israel to progress towards Palestinian statehood.
The reported intelligence contacts therefore represent a notable development, although they do not amount to formal diplomatic normalisation between the two countries.
Pakistan Faces Questions Over Mecca Defence Pact
The developments have also placed Pakistan’s recently signed defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye under scrutiny.
The agreement provides for collective defence, with an armed attack against one member to be treated as an attack against the others. However, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said earlier this month that no immediate military response had been discussed following Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif subsequently said an attack on Saudi Arabia could potentially activate the defence arrangement, while also saying he was unaware whether Riyadh had formally asked Islamabad for military assistance.
The differing statements have fuelled questions over how and when the new defence pact would actually be operationalised.
Islamabad Condemns Attack
Pakistan has strongly condemned the reported incident near Mecca.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the Saudi armed forces for their response and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and the security of the Islamic holy sites.
However, Islamabad has so far not announced that Pakistani forces will take part in military operations against the Houthis in Yemen.
Pakistan is also navigating wider strategic and economic considerations. The country has close defence and economic ties with Saudi Arabia while maintaining important relations with Iran, which supports the Houthi movement.
Houthis Deny Targeting Mecca
The Houthis have rejected the Saudi account that their forces targeted Mecca.
Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the group’s operations were aimed at Saudi military and economic targets and denied posing a threat to Islamic holy sites. Reuters also reported the Houthi denial of any intention to target Mecca.
The Houthis have claimed responsibility for several recent attacks against Saudi targets amid the renewed escalation, while Saudi Arabia has accused the group of targeting urban areas and critical infrastructure.
Wider Regional Escalation
The Mecca incident comes after a sharp increase in Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and growing tensions around the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb.
The strategic waterway is important for regional trade and energy shipments, while Houthi control and military activity along Yemen’s Red Sea coast have increased concerns about maritime security.
The renewed fighting has also created a difficult situation for Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye as they seek to give practical meaning to their new collective defence arrangement.
For now, the Mecca alert has highlighted the seriousness of the latest escalation, while the competing Saudi and Houthi accounts mean that the exact circumstances surrounding the drone’s launch and intended target remain disputed.
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