Iran-backed Houthis 'fire drone towards Mecca' as travel warning issued

Iran-backed Houthis 'fire drone towards Mecca' as travel warning issued Saudi Arabia said the drone was brought down south of Mecca as it vowed it would take the necessary action against 'hostile and terrorist behaviour' by the Houthis Saudi Arabia has intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone near Mecca, with the Iran-backed military group accused of targeting one of Islam's holiest cities. The drone was brought down south of Mecca on Tuesday evening, according to Turk al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. Mecca is home to Islam's most sacred shrine and attracts millions of Muslims during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Maliki branded the alleged targeting of the city a "disgraceful act". The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which represents 57 countries, also condemned the incident, saying attacks on Mecca and Medina province were an "unacceptable and intolerable transgression." But the Houthis have strongly denied targeting either holy site, accusing Saudi Arabia of "fabrications and lies". The Iran-backed military group controls much of western Yemen and has been engaged in a long-running conflict with Saudi Arabia and its allies. Military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said: "There is no threat whatsoever from Yemen to the holy sites. Our operations target their oil facilities and military bases, and are far removed from the holy places." Sarea claimed the Houthis had launched missiles and drones towards Saudi Arabia in retaliation for more than 450 Saudi airstrikes on Yemen over the previous week. He also claimed the group had shot down a Saudi fighter jet over Marib province. The Saudi-led coalition forces said it would "not hesitate to take the necessary and deterrent measures against the terrorist Houthi militia and its hostile and terrorist behaviour". It comes as multiple security alerts were issued by Saudi authorities on Tuesday, warning of incoming projectiles in a number of western areas, including Mecca and Jeddah. The US embassy in Saudi Arabia issued a "reconsider travel" advisory, saying the Houthis had targeted cities, infrastructure, airports, military bases and energy facilities. The growing conflict is putting further pressure on Saudi Arabia's oil exports and raising fears over disruption to global energy supplies. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, was forced to close one of its key pipelines after it was badly damaged in an attack blamed by the kingdom on Iran-backed militias in Iraq. The East-West Pipeline is a 1,200km pump which carries crude from the Gulf to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, providing an alternative route for Saudi oil exports that avoids the Strait of Hormuz. It has carried around 2.6 million to 4 million barrels of oil per day since August. The closure comes as the Houthis expand their control along Yemen's Red Sea, which links the Suez Canal with Bab al-Mandab Strait, making it a key trade corridor between Europe and Asia. Oil prices have risen above $100 a barrel in recent days as the Houthis seize more territory, ports and islands previously held by Yemen's government forces. Saudi oil supplies have also come under pressure from strikes linked to Iran, while UK pump prices continue to climb. Petrol and diesel prices have already risen by around 5p a litre over the past week, with further increases possible if disruption to key supply routes continues. The escalation has fuelled fears that the widening conflict could trigger a fresh global energy crisis, with the Strait of Hormuz already facing disruption amid US-Iran tensions.