Saudi Arabia accused Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels overnight of trying to attack Islam’s holiest city , prompting condemnation from countries in the region but no sign of military support.
The kingdom, a key U.S. ally, declared Mecca a “red line” as it slid deeper into the new front of the Iran war.
Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led military coalition. Vice President J.D. The Houthis denied firing drones toward Mecca, about 1,100 kilometres from Yemen’s border. Other condemnation came from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, representing over 57 Muslim states, which said the attempt violates the “sanctity of holy sites. This was the second attempted attack by the Houthis against Mecca after the rebels fired a ballistic missile toward the city in 2017, according to Col. President Donald Trump said Saturday (September 12, 2026), adding that the rebels appear focused on the Saudis.
The Saudis said they intercepted and destroyed the drone before it entered the airspace over the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif joined the condemnation of the attempted drone attack on Mecca and said his country and the Saudis stand “unwaveringly, shoulder to shoulder. “ The Houthis called us, and they don’t want to fight with us ,” U.S. Vance on Monday (September 14, 2026) said Washington had been in “constant contact” with the Saudis and had been “engaged in direct conversations with the Houthis themselves,” calling it “a very fluid and dynamic thing” to be monitored.
Spokespeople for the Saudi-led coalition and the Saudi government didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Chinese President Xi Jinping at BRICS summit in New Delhi over the weekend again offered Beijing’s help in ending the conflict in the Middle East.
