New Delhi, Sept. 16 -- Saudi Arabia's conflict with Yemen's Houthi forces escalated on Wednesday, with air-defence systems intercepting a drone south of Mecca and authorities briefly issuing security alerts in several western regions. The Houthis have denied targeting the holy city, while claiming that they shot down a Saudi fighter jet over Yemen.
Saudi authorities said the drone was intercepted before it could enter the restricted airspace over Mecca. The Saudi-led coalition described the security of Mecca and the Islamic holy sites as a red line. The Houthis, however, rejected the allegation that they had targeted Mecca.
The incident came amid a wider wave of Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting parts of Saudi Arabia. According to the Saudi-led coalition, 13 people were injured in attacks on Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif. Seven homes and two vehicles were also damaged.
Saudi Civil Defence subsequently issued temporary alerts covering areas including Mecca, Jeddah and Taif, with earlier warnings also issued for Yanbu, Abha and Jazan. Authorities later said the immediate danger had passed in the affected areas.
The United States has also issued a travel advisory for Saudi Arabia, asking its citizens to reconsider travel to the kingdom. The advisory cited risks linked to armed conflict, terrorism and possible missile and drone attacks targeting US interests. Americans were separately advised not to travel to the Yemen border because of the threat of terrorism.
The latest escalation is also raising concerns over oil supplies and maritime trade. The Houthis have made gains along Yemen's Red Sea coastline, including areas close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Any prolonged disruption could affect shipping between Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia is simultaneously facing pressure on its energy infrastructure. Its East-West oil pipeline, which allows the kingdom to transport crude to the Red Sea while bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, was damaged in a separate attack that Riyadh attributed to an Iran-aligned group based in Iraq.
Meanwhile, the Houthis claimed that they had shot down a Saudi fighter jet as fighting intensified between the group and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen. The claim has not been independently verified.
The renewed fighting follows a period of relative calm after the 2022 truce. Clashes have intensified in recent months, with the conflict increasingly affecting Saudi territory, regional energy infrastructure and major maritime routes.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.