SRINAGAR: Saudi air defence systems intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Makkah before it could enter the holy city’s restricted airspace, the Saudi-led coalition said, warning that the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a “red line”, Reuters reported.
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Malki said the Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepted the drone on Tuesday evening. He described the incident as a “hostile and terrorist act” and said the drone had been launched by the Houthis.
Al-Malki said the coalition would adopt “necessary and deterrent measures” against the Houthi movement, according to Saudi Gazette. He also said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims would not be compromised.
The coalition said the incident marked the second alleged Houthi attempt to target Makkah, referring to what it said was a ballistic missile launch towards the city on July 27, 2017, The Guardian reported.
The Houthis have denied that Makkah was the intended target. A Houthi official rejected the Saudi allegation as false, according to The Guardian.
The incident comes amid renewed military exchanges involving Saudi-backed forces and the Houthis, with both sides presenting competing accounts of operations in Yemen.
Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said in a statement posted on Telegram on Tuesday that Saudi warplanes had conducted 52 airstrikes in the preceding 24 hours. He said the aircraft involved included F-15 and Typhoon jets operating from Khamis Mushait and Taif airbases.
Saree further alleged that the Saudi strikes hit civilian infrastructure, including schools, bridges and roads in Taiz governorate, as well as other targets in Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, Saada and Amran governorates.
The claims made by the Houthi spokesman have not been independently verified.
