Saudi Arabia issues Mecca alert after Houthi drone intercepted

Fighting between Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces has intensified, with reports of 63 to 68 deaths in 24 hours, including 23 government soldiers and about 40 Houthi fighters. Saudi Arabia said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the holy city’s prohibited airspace, while debris from another intercepted drone fell in Taif, killing a Yemeni resident, critically injuring a Pakistani resident and injuring a Saudi woman. Riyadh called the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims a “red line” and threatened deterrent action; the Houthis denied targeting Mecca or religious sites, and Iran questioned whether the interception established Houthi responsibility while condemning threats to Islamic sites. The Houthis have reportedly advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, prompting Saudi airstrikes that reportedly killed civilians, damaged the Al-Barah Bridge and disrupted traffic, while a separate attack damaged buildings, vehicles and a mosque. The escalation has raised risks to shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Saudi oil export routes and global energy supplies amid wider regional conflict and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. The United States advises travelers to reconsider trips to Saudi Arabia under a Level 3 advisory and maintains a Level 4 warning for areas near the Yemen border because of missile and drone attacks, terrorism, possible aviation disruption and other risks.