On Wednesday, spokesperson Turki al‑Maliki of the Saudi‑led coalition said a Houthi‑fired drone was intercepted before reaching Mecca, calling the attack a violation of a "red line" that protects the Two Holy Mosques.
The Iran‑backed Houthis rejected the claim, labeling it a "lie" in a statement by politburo member Hazem al‑Assad posted on X. The group said it had not fired any drones toward Mecca in the last week.
The broader conflict has escalated since July, when the Houthis seized Yemen's entire Red Sea coast and the Bab al‑Mandab Strait, threatening Saudi oil exports and international shipping lanes.
Saudi authorities issued alerts across the kingdom after a wave of ballistic missile and drone strikes from Yemen wounded 13 people in its southern provinces, the first such warning in Mecca since the war began in February.
In response, the coalition vowed to take "all necessary operational measures" to deter the Houthis, while the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the alleged attack as "heinous". The next day, the US military task force announced plans to enhance intelligence sharing with Saudi forces.