Saudi authorities issued a second emergency alert for Mecca on Thursday after a surge of missile strikes from Yemen's Iran‑backed Houthi rebels. The warning, the first of its kind in this latest flare‑up, came just days after the coalition intercepted six ballistic missiles aimed at Taif and Yanbu.
The alert was promptly lifted when the Saudi Civil Defence assessed that the immediate threat had passed. Officials urged residents to heed safety instructions, avoid crowds and refrain from filming the city’s sacred sites as a precaution.
Houthis, who seized Yemen’s western coast and declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, have intensified attacks on the Saudi‑led coalition since July. The group’s missile campaign has escalated tensions around the Bab el‑Mandeb strait, a vital artery for global shipping.
In a statement, the coalition vowed that "any escalation and violations by the terrorist Houthi militia will be dealt with firmly." The 12‑year civil war, now in a new phase of fighting, has already claimed more than 700 lives and displaced nearly 130,000 Yemenis.
A Mecca pilgrim, who chose to remain unnamed, said he felt a "heavy weight of anxiety" walking past the Sanam Gate after the alert. Authorities say they will keep monitoring missile activity and will issue further warnings if the threat level rises.