Houthis Accused of Mecca Attack as Saudi Arabia Warns of 'Red Line'
The conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen has escalated further, with the kingdom accusing the Houthis of attempting to attack Islam's holiest city, Mecca.
Saudi Arabia's military spokesman, Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, said that the country's air defense forces intercepted a drone south of Mecca on Tuesday just before 7 p.m. local time, and warned that the security of the holy city is a 'red line'.
The Houthis have denied targeting Mecca, saying their operations had targeted Saudi oil facilities and military bases, 'far removed' from the sacred site of the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad.
The conflict has already caused significant disruptions to global energy supplies, with oil prices soaring over fears that the Houthis could shut down the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a crucial transit route for Saudi Arabian oil exports.