Saudi Arabia’s air defense system intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by the Houthis toward the city of Mecca, the Saudi-led Joint Forces Command of the Arab coalition operating in Yemen announced Wednesday morning.

According to the Saudi statement, the drone was intercepted Tuesday at 6:50 p.m. south of Mecca, before it could enter the city’s restricted airspace. Saudi Arabia accused the Houthi militia in Yemen of launching the drone.

Coalition spokesman Gen. Turki al-Maliki issued a statement, saying that this was the Houthis’ second attempt to strike Mecca, with the previous attempt taking place on July 27, 2017, when a ballistic missile was launched toward the city.

Al-Maliki accused the Houthis of attempting to harm civilians and visitors in the city and provoke outrage among millions of Muslims around the world. He stressed that the security of the holy sites and those visiting them is a “red line,” and threatened that the coalition would take deterrent measures against the Houthi militia.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry strongly condemned a series of additional attacks carried out by the Houthis against civilian facilities in the Saudi cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif.

According to the Emirati statement, the attacks were carried out using ballistic missiles and drones and resulted in dozens of civilians being wounded.

Abu Dhabi described the attacks as “a blatant violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and a threat to its security and stability.” The UAE Foreign Ministry expressed solidarity with the kingdom and said it would support all measures Saudi Arabia takes to protect its security and stability.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)