KABUL (Pajhwok): The Saudi-led coalition says Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the city’s restricted airspace. The Houthis have denied targeting Mecca.
The drone was intercepted and destroyed late Tuesday, Reuters reported.
The security of Islam’s two holiest sites and pilgrims was a “red line,” coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said early Wednesday, adding that the coalition would take necessary deterrent measures against the Houthis.
Al-Malki described the incident as the second Houthi attempt to target Mecca, following what the coalition said was a ballistic missile launch toward the city in July 2017.
Saudi Arabia issued security alerts across parts of the country on Tuesday, including Mecca and several other cities.
Meanwhile, a Houthi military source denied that the group posed any threat to Mecca or other holy sites, according to the Houthi-run SABA news agency.
kk/sa
