October 30, 2026

Yemen's Houthis deny launching drone after coalition reports interception in Makkah region

The group has repeatedly denied targeting Makkah and Madinah, Islam's two holiest cities

Yemen's Houthis deny launching drone after coalition reports interception in Makkah region
FILE PHOTO: Houthi activists stand on a platform against a banner depicting Houthi missiles, at an anti-Saudi rally amid an escalation with the kingdom, in Sanaa, Yemen, Jul 31, 2026. REUTERS

Reuters

Published : 30 Oct 2026, 01:00 PM

Updated : 30 Oct 2026, 12:59 PM

Yemen's Houthis denied launching any attack towards Saudi Arabia on Friday, after the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by the group over the Mecca region.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree dismissed the coalition's account as false in a post on X, saying the group had not carried out any operation towards Saudi territory. He said its operations target Saudi oil facilities and military bases.

The Iran-aligned Houthis have launched a series of cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia targeting military installations, airports and energy infrastructure.

The group has repeatedly denied targeting Makkah and Madinah, Islam's two holiest cities, rejecting previous Saudi-led coalition accusations that it had launched drones towards the cities.

Related Stories