Saudi Arabia accuses Houthi rebels of targeting Mecca
Saudi Arabia has accused the Iran-backed Houthi rebels of attempting to attack Islam’s holiest city, declaring Mecca a “red line” in the escalating conflict, reports BritPanorama.
The kingdom’s claim drew condemnation from across the Middle East, with heightened fears of a return to all-out war between the key U.S. ally and the Yemeni rebels. However, there were no immediate signs of military support to Saudi Arabia in response to these tensions.
The Houthis swiftly denied targeting Mecca, asserting that their operations focused on Saudi oil facilities and military bases, “far removed” from the sacred site of the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. They accused Saudi Arabia of spreading “fabrications and lies.”
The Houthis’ rapid ground advance in Yemen and aerial attacks have severely disrupted a crucial oil pipeline, threatening energy supplies through a second major shipping route and leaving Saudi Arabia struggling to respond adequately.
The escalating conflict has raised the spectre of opening a second front in the Iran war, with oil and gas prices beginning to rise. President Donald Trump has not indicated any U.S. plans to intervene in this new theatre.
The United States on Wednesday upgraded its travel advisory to Saudi Arabia to Level 3, advising Americans to “reconsider travel” to the kingdom and imposing a ban on government employees from travelling near the Yemen border.
Saudi military spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki reported that the kingdom’s air defense forces intercepted a drone south of Mecca shortly before 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday, highlighting the heightened security measures taken for the holy city.
Al-Malki emphasized that the security of Mecca and its pilgrims is a “red line,” warning that there would be no hesitation in taking “necessary and deterrent measures” against the Houthis.
Mecca, known as the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, draws millions of Muslims from around the globe for pilgrimage each year.
“While the Houthis and Saudi Arabia trade barbs over whether the target was Mecca or not,” stated Adam Baron, a fellow at New America, “it’s clear you’re seeing a real demonstration of the Houthis’ continued strategic depth.”
He added: “The fact that they were able to strike this deep in Saudi Arabia signals their capacity, if not future intentions.”
The Iran-backed rebels have intensified attacks on Saudi cities following their capture of a key Red Sea port city and island, aiming to strengthen control over the crucial Bab el-Mandeb strait.
Oil prices have surged amid fears that the Houthis could block this vital waterway, which serves as a crucial transit route for Saudi Arabian oil exports, especially since the Strait of Hormuz has been largely closed by Iran since the U.S. and Israel launched their war in late February.
As of early Wednesday, the international benchmark Brent crude was priced at around $108 per barrel, with the nationwide average cost of diesel fuel reaching an all-time high of $6.31.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the alleged attack on Mecca as a “dastardly and heinous” act. He reiterated Pakistan’s general support for Saudi Arabia, although he did not directly reference the Houthis in his remarks.
The U.S. conducted a bombing campaign against the Houthis last year but has shown little inclination for renewed military involvement in the region.
Trump indicated over the weekend that the Houthis had communicated with his administration, stating they “don’t want to fight with us.” During a visit to Dublin, he maintained that everything would “work out fine and dandy” in the region.
The Houthis and the coalition backing the internationally-supported Yemeni government have been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, with no clear resolution despite a truce agreed years earlier.
The United Nations Security Council convened on Tuesday for an emergency session to address the rising violence in Yemen, the region’s most impoverished country, with member nations urging de-escalation.
The U.N. has warned that the ongoing clashes between Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and Houthi rebels have displaced at least 125,000 people since the start of September.
