Houthis claim to have shot down Saudi fighter jet and deny targeting Mecca

Saudi Arabia announced it will not hesitate to implement “deterrent measures” against Yemen’s Houthi rebels after the kingdom’s air defense system issued alerts about possible drone activity near Islam’s holiest site. The warnings, released by the Saudi Ministry of Interior on Tuesday, marked the first such alerts since the Iran‑backed conflict escalated in February, raising concerns about the security of the sacred precincts surrounding the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

The Saudi government said the alerts were a precautionary response to intelligence indicating that the Houthis might attempt to launch unmanned aerial vehicles in the vicinity of the holy complex. While no drones were confirmed to have entered Saudi airspace, officials emphasized that any hostile action would trigger a swift and proportionate response to protect the site and its millions of pilgrims. The statement underscores the heightened tension between Riyadh and the Houthi movement amid the broader regional hostilities linked to Iran’s involvement in the war.