Houthis Deny Mecca Drone Attack After Saudi Coalition Interception Claim

Houthis Deny Mecca Drone Attack : Yemen’s Houthi group has denied initiating an attack on Saudi Arabia after a Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed a drone above Mecca. On Friday, the two sides provided differing descriptions of the incident, with the Houthis dismissing the alleged operation and the coalition claiming that its air defenses stopped the aircraft.

Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesperson, denied the coalition’s assertion in a post on X. He stated that the organization has not launched any operations against Saudi territory.

The controversy arose when both parties reported military operations between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The new comments come after a second coalition declaration regarding the interception of a Houthi cruise missile intended toward western Saudi Arabia.

Houthis Reject Saudi Claims of Mecca Drone Attack

Saree stated that the Houthis have not initiated an offensive against Saudi Arabia. He also indicated that the group’s actions focus on Saudi oil infrastructure and military locations.

His statements came after the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone launched over Mecca. The public statement did not disclose any information regarding the drone, such as its kind, flight route, or the circumstances surrounding its interception.

The Houthis have denied targeting Mecca and Medina, Islam’s two holiest cities. Their most recent denial takes the same stance, with the organization rejecting charges that it directed drone attacks toward these targets.

The conflicting stories make the facts surrounding Friday’s alleged drone mishap unclear. The coalition identified the aircraft as a Houthi launch, although Saree denied that his organization conducted an attack against Saudi territory.

The most recent conversation underscores the disparity in the narratives provided by the two parties. Neither statement, as presented, provides further information that may independently substantiate the circumstances of the purported drone interception.

Saudi Arabia Faces Fresh Houthi Attack Claims

The drone disagreement followed an earlier declaration by Saudi-led coalition spokesperson al-Maliki, who stated that air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi cruise missile aimed for western Saudi Arabia on Friday.

The missile report and the drone interception claim were for distinct situations. The information presented does not indicate if the two occurrences were related.

The Houthis also declared on Thursday that they had launched six assaults on Saudi targets. The organization stated that the objectives included energy facilities and airports.

The larger conflict has included cross-border strikes against Saudi military sites, airports, and energy infrastructure. The Houthis, who are affiliated with Iran, have engaged in recurrent conflicts with the Saudi-led coalition.

The coalition intervened in Yemen’s war in March 2015 to help the internationally recognized government against the Houthis. The organization took over Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in September 2014.

The newest claims come as both sides continue to release comments on military operations. While the coalition reported killing a drone in the Mecca region and a cruise missile aiming at western Saudi Arabia, the Houthis denied carrying out the alleged operation against Saudi territory.

The fundamental issue is the contradicting reports of Friday’s drone incident. The coalition blamed the rocket on the Houthis, although the organization denied this claim through its military spokeswoman.