Saudi forces down drone approaching Islam's holiest city as Houthi rebels deny targeting Mecca, while attacks on export pipeline force Europe shipment…
Published
Saudi Arabia's air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday before it could enter prohibited airspace over the holy city, the Saudi-led military coalition confirmed. Saudi Arabia called the security of pilgrims a "red line," and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned what it described as an attack on the holy city.
The Iran-aligned Houthi group rejected the suggestion it had targeted Mecca. A spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition said the drone was intercepted before reaching the city, which receives millions of pilgrims annually.
Separately, Saudi Arabia has cancelled some oil deliveries to Europe after attacks shut down its export pipeline to the Red Sea. The East-West pipeline, which runs from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea coast, was hit in September.
A senior Iraqi source told Al Jazeera that the pipeline attack points to a resistance "splinter" group, highlighting Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's struggle to control armed factions operating outside state authority. The pipeline disruption marks the latest escalation in the wider regional conflict spanning Yemen, Iraq, and the Gulf.
Sources: 1. France 24: Middle East live: Saudi Arabia accuses Houthi rebels of launching a drone strike on Mecca — http://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260916-middle-east-live-saudi-arabia-accuses-houthi-rebels-of-launching-a-drone-strike-on-mecca (src1) 2.