Saudi Arabia shot down a drone launched towards Mecca

Saudi Arabia shot down a drone headed towards Mecca

Saudi Arabia has destroyed a Houthi drone launched towards the city of Mecca.

The drone was shot down before entering the restricted airspace over the holy city. According to Turki al-Malki, this was the Houthis' second attempt to target Mecca since they launched a ballistic missile in July 2017.

A military coalition spokesperson emphasized that the city's security is a "red line."

Saudi Arabia issued a security alert regarding Mecca on September 15. Muhammad al-Farah, a member of the Houthi political bureau, denied that the city was targeted. In a statement published by the Houthi-controlled SABA news agency, the accusation was described as "completely false."

The Houthis claimed to have carried out several major attacks on Saudi Arabia over the past week. They said these strikes were carried out in response to airstrikes on Yemen. On September 14, an airbase in Saudi Arabia was targeted. According to representatives of the Saudi-led military coalition, 13 civilians were injured in this attack.

The attacks on Saudi Arabia have affected global energy markets, which have been destabilized by the six-month US–Iran war. Previously, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had decreased significantly. In peacetime, about 20 percent of the world's oil was transported through this strait daily.

Due to the situation in Hormuz, Saudi Arabia is using the Bab al-Mandab Strait as an alternative sea route for oil exports. However, in recent days, the Yemeni Houthis have taken control of parts of the Red Sea coast, including areas overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world's most important shipping lanes. This poses a threat to Saudi Arabia's oil exports.

On September 10, the East-West oil pipeline was attacked. The following day, Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended the pipeline's operation as a precautionary measure. It was determined that the drones that attacked the facility were launched from Iraq. Baghdad has launched an investigation into the situation and closed three crossing points on the border with Iran.

The 1,200-kilometer-long East-West pipeline, which connects Saudi Arabia's Persian Gulf oil fields with the Red Sea, has been the kingdom's main export route. Oil transportation through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted due to the war, which has lasted for nearly seven months.