Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi drone near Mecca, warns of deterrent action

Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday, with the coalition warning that the security of Islam's holiest sites is a "red line" and vowing deterrent measures. The coalition described it as the second Houthi attempt to target Mecca, following a 2017 missile launch, while a Houthi official denied the claim as a "worn-out lie." The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the attack as "heinous." The incident follows a week of Iran-aligned attacks drawing Saudi Arabia deeper into regional conflict, including strikes on an airbase, amid Houthi control over Yemen's Red Sea coast threatening oil exports.