Saudi Arabia says its air defence forces intercepted and destroyed a drone near Makkah before it could enter the restricted airspace of the holy city.
The incident took place on Tuesday evening, September 15, 2026. Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Malki said the drone was intercepted at around 6:50 pm south of Makkah. He said the aircraft was launched by Yemen’s Houthi group and described the incident as the group’s second reported attempt to target the city, following a ballistic missile incident in July 2017.
Saudi authorities said the drone was destroyed before reaching Makkah, and its wreckage fell south of the city. A security alert was also briefly issued in Makkah, Jeddah and Taif as authorities responded to the threat.
However, the Houthis rejected Saudi Arabia’s accusation. A Houthi military source said the group had not targeted Makkah or other Islamic holy sites.
The incident has drawn international concern because Makkah is Islam’s holiest city and receives millions of pilgrims each year. Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have also condemned the reported attempt.
