Saudis call attack on Mecca a ’red line’ as Yemenis deny responsibility

World / 16 September 2026 Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings last year 16 September 2026 Central Africa / 16 September 2026 Police fire tear gas to break up Congo protests against constitutional changes 16 September 2026 Turkey / 16 September 2026 Police crackdown on LGBT+ protesters in Istanbul 16 September 2026 World / 16 September 2026 Germany’s Merz cancels UN trip as pressure mounts over far-right election loss 16 September 2026 Middle East / 15 September 2026 Oil prices set to soar after Saudi pipeline hit by drones 15 September 2026 SAUDI ARABIA accused Yemen’s Houthi-led forces of trying to attack Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, in the early hours of this morning.

The attack sparked condemnation from other countries in the region but no sign of military support.

The kingdom declared Mecca a “red line” as it slid deeper into the conflict with the Yemenis.

With the world’s biggest oil exporter under fire from the Yemenis, the kingdom needs a safe outlet for its crude as well as military assistance.

A path to either one remains unclear.

The Yemenis have been targeting infrastructure in the kingdom as well as its shipping on the Red Sea, where they have seized several islands on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Iran continues to target ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices remain above $100 (around £74) a barrel.

The Yemenis denied firing drones toward Mecca, about 680 miles from its border.

The Saudis said they had intercepted and destroyed the drone before it entered the airspace over the birthplace of the Prophet Mohammed.

The attacks are another test of a new defence pact among Saudi Arabia, Nato member Turkey and nuclear power Pakistan.

But officials from Turkey and Pakistan have reportedly told the Saudis that as a pre-existing conflict this does not come within the scope of the pact.

A Turkish source also said efforts to “institutionalise” the alliance need to be completed before the pact becomes operational.

As part of the condemnation of the attempted drone attack on Mecca, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his country and the Saudis stand “unwaveringly, shoulder to shoulder.”

Criticism also came from the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, representing over 57 Muslim states, which said the attempt violates the “sanctity of holy sites.”

This was the second alleged attack by the Yemenis against Mecca after a ballistic missile was fired toward the city in 2017.

The Yemenis claimed today that they shot down an F-15 fighter jet operated by the Saudi-led coalition over the central province of Marib.

Yemeni military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree didn’t say when it occurred and there was no immediate comment from the Saudi led coalition or the rival government it is backing.

The US has sold billions of dollars in weapons to Saudi Arabia and has committed to providing training and other support to protect the kingdom, but top US officials in recent days have indicated a lack of desire to get involved in the conflict.