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OfficialMilitary & securitySouth of Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia says it shot down a Houthi drone heading for Mecca; Houthis deny it

Mountain Time
Local time
12:50 AM in Riyadh, Sep 16
Where
South of Mecca, Saudi Arabia

The Saudi-led coalition said air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca as it tried to enter the holy city's airspace, calling it the second attempt on Mecca after a 2017 missile. A Houthi politburo member called the claim a 'nauseating lie.' Several Muslim-majority governments condemned the attempt.

Why it matters

An attack claim on Islam's holiest city raises the political stakes of the Saudi-Houthi war and fed Pakistani talk of invoking the Mecca defence pact.

Sources (2)

Confidence: Stated by a named government, military, or institution. Not independently confirmed. About confidence labels