India's External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned a Houthi‑launched drone that Saudi air defenses destroyed near Mecca on Tuesday.
Saudi officials said the drone was destroyed before breaching Mecca's airspace and described it a "terrorist act", noting it was the second attempt to hit the holy city after a ballistic missile launch in July 2017.
The Houthi movement, represented by Brigadier General Yahya Saree, denied the accusation, calling it "fabrications and lies" and insisting its operations target Saudi oil facilities and bases far from sacred sites.
India, which has maintained a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia, said it hopes for the early restoration of peace and stability in the region, adding that it would raise the incident with diplomatic partners and through multilateral forums.
With the Houthi campaign intensifying and the broader West Asian conflict escalating, Indian officials are monitoring the situation closely, warning that any further escalation could threaten the safety of millions of pilgrims who will traverse the Arabian Peninsula in the coming months.