The National Early Warning Platform posted the second alert on its official X account at 10:00 a.m. on September 24, 2026, urging Mecca residents to seek shelter and remain indoors until the threat subsided.
Earlier, on September 15, the platform had issued a similar warning after Saudi air defences destroyed a Houthi drone that had breached the kingdom’s prohibited airspace south of Mecca.
In the intervening days, a Saudi coalition intercepted six ballistic missiles launched by the Yemen‑based Houthi militia, thwarting an attempt to strike Taif and Yanbu, according to coalition spokesman Turki al‑Maliki. “Escalations and violations by the terrorist Houthi militia will be dealt with firmly,” he said in a series of posts on X, underscoring the kingdom’s resolve.
The Houthi group, backed by Iran, has intensified attacks following its maritime blockade of Saudi shipping in the Red Sea, and last month seized strategic coastal positions overlooking the Bab al‑Mandab strait.
Amid the turmoil, a family of four in Mecca, preparing for the annual Hajj, reported that the sudden alerts caused panic but also reinforced their faith in the kingdom’s protective measures.
The coalition will convene a high‑level security meeting on September 30 to assess new defensive protocols and plan for potential future incursions.