Saudi Says Houthi Drone Targeted Mecca Amid Escalating Tensions in West Asia

Riyadh: Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, a Houthi drone was reportedly intercepted over the Mecca region, according to a Saudi-led military coalition spokesman in Yemen.

The spokesman said Saudi air defence systems destroyed the drone before it entered the region. The airspace over Mecca is a restricted zone. The Houthis had previously launched a ballistic missile towards Mecca in July 2017.

The Houthis, however, rejected Saudi Arabia's allegation and said they had not carried out any attack targeting Mecca. The Saudi Air Defence Forces and the military coalition said the security of Mecca remained a priority.

Saudi-led coalition airstrikes against targets in Yemen are continuing. The Houthis had earlier carried out an attack on a Saudi airbase in retaliation, in which 13 people were injured.

The situation in West Asia has deteriorated further amid the ongoing offensive by the US-Israeli attack against Iran. Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has also faced disruptions.

Meanwhile, Houthi control of parts of the Bab el-Mandeb, one of the world's major shipping routes, has disrupted Saudi oil exports, according to the reports.