Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:20am on 16 Sep 2026,Wednesday International
Saudi Arabia says its air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the holy city’s restricted airspace. The Saudi-led coalition described the incident as the second attempted Houthi attack on Mecca, following a 2017 missile incident. Saudi officials warned that the security of Mecca, Medina and pilgrims is a “red line.” The Houthis denied targeting Mecca or any Islamic holy site, calling the Saudi claim misinformation. The interception came amid intensified Houthi attacks on Saudi territory and growing regional tensions involving Iran, Yemen and Gulf states. Saudi authorities also issued temporary security alerts in Mecca, Jeddah and Taif. (PC: Reuters)
