Saudi Arabia announced that its air defense shot down a Houthi drone on Tuesday south of Mecca before it entered the restricted airspace of this holy city.
Houthi Attempts to Target Mecca
The drone that was shot down was the second attempt by the Houthis to target Mecca after firing a ballistic missile in 2017. A spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition warned that the security of holy sites is a "red line."
Read more: Russians Introduce Candidates for Ukraine War in Parliamentary Elections
Houthi Denial of Accusations
Saudi Arabia issued security warnings for Mecca as well as Taif and Jeddah. However, Mohammed al-Farrah, a member of the Houthi political office, accused the group of targeting the holy city and called the claim "a blatant lie." Hazem al-Asad, another senior member of the group, firmly denied targeting Mecca and wrote on social media: "Claims about targeting Mecca are a tiresome lie that has been used before and no longer deceives anyone.
Mecca, known for its sacred arteries for Muslims around the world, is the holiest city in Islam and the focal point of the pilgrimage (Hajj) that millions of Muslims undertake each year.
Tensions and Conflicts in Yemen
The latest tensions have arisen after a sharp increase in clashes between the Houthis and the coalition. The Houthis have taken control of parts of the Red Sea coast and pose a threat to Saudi oil exports. They have also carried out major attacks on Saudi Arabia over the past week, including an attack on an airbase which they described as retaliation for airstrikes on Yemen.
Saudi Arabia has also blamed another Iran-backed group based in Iraq for an attack that occurred on Friday on one of the country's most important oil transport routes. This attack affected the East-West pipeline that connects Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea.
Economic Consequences and Calls for Military Support
Traders say that the closure of the pipeline after the attack on Friday could cut up to 4 percent of global oil supply. Saudi Arabia has not yet announced a timeline for resuming operations. Reports indicate that Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, has asked Donald Trump for military assistance against the Houthis, but the United States has not yet responded to this request.
Meanwhile, Britain is considering helping Saudi Arabia to counter Houthi attacks. According to informed sources, Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister of Britain, has received requests from Riyadh for diplomatic and military support, but it is unclear whether these requests will be approved.
Read more: Trial of Former Libyan Intelligence Official for Bombing Pan Am Flight 103 Begins in January · Houthi Attacks on Red Sea Coasts Threaten Saudi Control
Source: independent.co.uk
