Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has condemned the reported interception of a drone south of Mecca, describing the incident as a serious violation of the sanctity of Islamic holy sites and a threat to Saudi Arabia’s security.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said attacks or attempted attacks near religious sites were incompatible with Islamic values and violated the principles of international law. Cairo also rejected any actions that could endanger Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territory or citizens.
Egypt said Saudi Arabia’s security was closely connected to broader Arab national security and to Egypt’s own national security interests. The Egyptian government also expressed support for measures taken by Riyadh to protect its territory, the two holy mosques and pilgrims.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, when Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Mecca before it entered the restricted airspace surrounding the holy city. The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government said the drone had been launched by the Houthi movement.
Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said the drone was destroyed at approximately 6:50 p.m. local time. He described the security of the two holy mosques and pilgrims as a “red line” and said the coalition would take what it called necessary and deterrent measures against the Houthis.
Saudi authorities also issued security alerts in several western areas, including Mecca, Jeddah and Taif, after reports of incoming projectiles. The alerts were later lifted, according to Saudi civil-defense authorities. The reported incident was described as the first time since the beginning of the latest regional conflict that an emergency warning had been issued in Mecca.
The Saudi government characterized the reported attempt as an attack on the sanctity of the holy city. Saudi Arabia has also said it retains the right to take measures it considers necessary to protect the two holy mosques, pilgrims and its national territory.
The Houthis denied targeting Mecca. A Houthi military spokesman said the group’s operations were directed at Saudi oil facilities, military positions and other strategic targets, not religious sites. Houthi officials described the Saudi account as false and rejected the allegation that the movement had attempted to strike the holy city.
The competing claims could not immediately be independently verified. No report cited in connection with the incident indicated that the drone entered Mecca’s restricted airspace or caused casualties or damage inside the city.
Al-Azhar, Egypt’s leading Sunni Islamic institution, also condemned the reported incident. It warned that any attempt to endanger Mecca would affect Muslims around the world and said the holy city must not become an arena for military confrontation or political threats.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned what it described as attacks against Mecca and the surrounding region. The organization said that targeting holy sites, mosques or civilian infrastructure violated their sanctity and threatened civilian lives.
The incident occurred during a broader escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who control large parts of western Yemen. The movement seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, and the conflict intensified in 2015 after a Saudi-led coalition intervened in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
The latest escalation has also affected maritime security in the Red Sea and around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The route is important for shipping between Asia, Europe and the Suez Canal.
The Houthis have recently claimed attacks against Saudi targets and said they were responding to Saudi military operations and restrictions affecting Yemen. Saudi Arabia and its allies have accused the movement of threatening regional security, civilian infrastructure and freedom of navigation.
The conflict has produced one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Years of fighting have displaced millions of people, damaged health and infrastructure systems and created widespread dependence on humanitarian assistance.
The reported drone interception adds a sensitive religious dimension to the confrontation. Mecca is Islam’s holiest city and the location of the Grand Mosque and the Kaaba. Millions of Muslims visit the city each year for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.
Egypt’s condemnation places Cairo among the regional governments and religious institutions calling for the protection of Mecca and the prevention of further escalation around Saudi territory. The Houthi denial, however, means that responsibility for the alleged targeting remains disputed.
