Saudi Arabia has reported intercepting a Houthi drone near the outskirts of Makkah, as tensions continue to rise in the region.
According to Saudi military officials, the drone was brought down before reaching the holy city. The incident has drawn condemnation from regional and Islamic organizations because of Makkah’s religious importance to Muslims around the world.
Saudi-led Coalition Forces spokesperson Turki al-Maliki described the incident as a serious violation and said authorities would take necessary measures.
The Houthis, however, rejected claims that Makkah was their intended target. Their military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group was targeting Saudi military positions and oil facilities located away from the holy sites.
The reported incident marks the first such claim involving Makkah since a missile was intercepted near the city in 2017.
