Saudi Arabia has accused Yemen’s Houthi rebels of launching a drone towards Mecca, warning that any threat to the holy city would trigger a strong response.
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted the drone before it could reach Mecca, which attracts millions of Muslim pilgrims annually.
The Houthis denied the allegation, describing Saudi Arabia’s claim as false.
Saudi authorities said the security of Mecca, Medina and Muslim pilgrims remains a priority and warned that attacks targeting the holy sites would not be tolerated.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, comprising 57 Muslim countries, condemned what it described as attacks targeting Mecca and the Medina region.
The latest development comes amid renewed fighting in Yemen between the Houthis and forces backed by Saudi Arabia. The conflict has also raised concerns over security along the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key route for global shipping.
The United Nations says about 82,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since the beginning of September as the fighting intensifies.
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