Houthis' Mecca Attack Sparks Red Line Warning from Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has declared Mecca a 'red line' after accusing Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels of attempting to attack Islam's holiest city. The kingdom, a key US ally, made this declaration as it faces growing pressure from the Houthis, who have been targeting infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and its shipping on the Red Sea.

The Houthis denied firing drones toward Mecca, but Saudi officials claim they intercepted and destroyed the drone before it entered the airspace over the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. This is the second attempted attack by the Houthis against Mecca, with the first being a ballistic missile fired in 2017.

The situation has raised concerns about the spread of conflict to Yemen and the Red Sea, with oil prices remaining above $100 a barrel due to the ongoing tensions in the region. The US has sold billions of dollars in weapons to Saudi Arabia but has indicated a lack of desire to get involved in the conflict.