Saudi Arabia says Houthi drone intercepted near Makkah, group denies involvement

Official says security of Two Holy Mosques is a 'red line,' vowing coalition to take measures to deter further attacks

Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi group near Makkah, the Saudi-led coalition said early on Wednesday, while the Houthis denied responsibility for the launch.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said the drone was intercepted around 6:50pm local time on Tuesday before entering restricted airspace, with its wreckage falling south of the city.

#بيان| اليمن يدين محاولة مليشيات الحوثي الإرهابية استهداف مكة المكرمةhttps://t.co/mL5o0ArYrv pic.twitter.com/qzwqUhS9oR

— وزارة خارجية الجمهورية اليمنية (@yemen_mofa) September 16, 2026

Al-Malki described the incident as the Houthis’ second attempt to target Makkah, citing a ballistic missile launched toward the city on July 27, 2017.

He said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a “red line,” vowing that the coalition would take measures to deter further attacks.

Meanwhile, the Houthis denied responsibility for the attack, rejecting the Saudi accusation that they had launched the drone.

“Claims of targeting Makkah are a nauseating lie that has been consumed before and no longer fools anyone,” Hezam al-Asad, a senior member of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, said in a statement.

BREAKING: Yemen's Houthis refute Saudi Arabia's claim that drone targeted Mecca

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/1YugSnFMGs pic.twitter.com/ih4qVPZsDJ

— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) September 16, 2026

The incident came a day after the coalition said 13 civilians were injured in missile and drone attacks by the Houthis on Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif, with seven homes and two vehicles damaged.

Confrontations between Yemen's internationally recognised government's forces and the Houthis have escalated since early July following years of relative calm.

The country has been engulfed in war since the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and several provinces in 2014 before a Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government.

 

OIC condemns 'heinous attacks' on Makkah, Madinah region

 

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned what it called Houthi attacks on Makkah and the Madinah region, calling them “heinous attacks” intended to “terrorise civilians” and violate the sanctity of holy sites and mosques, according to Al Jazeera.

BREAKING: The OIC condemns Houthi attacks on Mecca and the Medina region, calling them “heinous attacks” intended to “terrorise civilians” and violate the sanctity of holy sites and mosques.

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/P0Ss1lLNY8 pic.twitter.com/6YmQhZ7SWx

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 16, 2026

Confrontations between Yemen's internationally recognised government forces and the Houthis have escalated since early July following years of relative calm.

The country has been engulfed in war since the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and several provinces in 2014 before a Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in 2015 in support of the government.

Yemen's armed forces confirm they shot down Saudi fighter jet

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said in a statement on Wednesday that Yemeni forces downed a Saudi F-15 as the aircraft was conducting “hostile activities” over Ma'rib, according to Press TV.

Yemen Army confirms downing of Saudi F-15 warplane over Ma’ribhttps://t.co/bLc3kZoAPD

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) September 16, 2026

According to the statement, the military aircraft was operating in support of gatherings of forces affiliated with Saudi Arabia.

The statement added that Yemeni forces also forced a Saudi F-15 and Typhoon warplanes over Ma'rib to withdraw. According to the statement, the aircraft were searching for the wreckage of the downed aircraft.

Read more: Pakistan condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia at UN, calls for urgent de-escalation

Earlier, Yemen’s Houthi rebels said they shot down a Saudi fighter jet, claiming a locally made munition was used to target the warplane, AFP reported.

“The Yemeni Armed Forces, with Allah’s aid and grace, succeeded in shooting down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet while it was carrying out hostile operations in support of its military mobilisations in the airspace of Marib province, using a locally made air-to-air missile,” a spokesman for the Houthis said on social media, while accusing Saudi Arabia of launching 450 strikes.