First-Ever Mecca Aerial Alert After Saudi Arabia Intercepts Houthi Drone

Dil Bar Irshad | September 16, 2026 | 12:16 PM IST | Breaking News, Politics, World | Follow on Google News

First-Ever Mecca Aerial Alert After Saudi Arabia Intercepts Houthi Drone

Riyadh, September 16, 2026 [VoM News]: Saudi Arabia briefly placed Mecca, Jeddah and Taif on heightened alert after its air defences intercepted and destroyed what authorities said was a Houthi drone south of Mecca.

The incident triggered what was described as the first aerial threat alert issued in Mecca. Saudi authorities said the drone was destroyed before it could enter the restricted airspace around the holy city, which attracts millions of Muslim pilgrims every year.

A warning was also issued through Saudi Arabia’s National Early Warning Platform, urging residents in Mecca to follow official safety instructions. Israeli newspaper Hayom reported that air traffic bound for Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina was also temporarily halted.

The development came a day after Houthi attacks using ballistic missiles and drones reportedly wounded 13 people in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition condemned the attack, while Organisation of Islamic Cooperation spokesman Turki Al Maliki said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a “red line.”

The Houthis denied targeting Mecca, with political bureau member Hazem al-Assad calling Riyadh’s account a “lie.” Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree separately claimed the group had shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Yemen’s Marib province.

The latest escalation follows renewed fighting between the Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, alongside Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

Courtesy: Reuters

Dil Bar Irshad

Dil Bar Irshad is a seasoned journalist, hails from Jammu Kashmir's Doda, covers political, social, business stories, index stories.