Saudi coalition says Houthi drone destroyed near Makkah

Saudi Arabia’s air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah before ​it entered prohibited airspace over the holy city, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen ‌said on Wednesday, as fighting spreads in the Middle East.

The drone, intercepted on Tuesday evening, was the second Houthi attempt to target Makkah after a ballistic missile launch in July 2017, spokesperson Turki al-Malki said in a statement, and follows a week of attacks from Houthi fighters ​that have drawn Saudi Arabia deeper into the war.

Makkah is home to some of the holiest sites in Islam ​and the focal point of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, and its security was a “red line,” ⁠the coalition spokesperson al-Malki said in the statement.

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Houthi officials have denied targeting Makkah.

The attacks on Saudia Arabia have shocked global ​energy markets roiled by the six-month US-Iran war, which has slowed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to a trickle.

The Houthis ​have seized control of parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast in recent days overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb, one of the world’s most important shipping straits, threatening Saudi Arabia’s oil exports rerouted from the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia issued security alerts for Makkah on Tuesday, but Houthi political bureau ​member Mohammed al-Farah denied the group had targeted the city, calling the allegation “an outright lie” in comments carried by the ​Houthi-run SABA news agency.

The Houthis have announced several major attacks on Saudi Arabia over the past week, including attacks on an air base ‌on Monday, ⁠which they said were in retaliation for airstrikes on Yemen.

The air base attack wounded 13 civilians, Saudi-led military coalition officials said.

Saudi Arabia has blamed a separate pro-Iranian movement, based in Iraq, for an attack on Friday that knocked out one of the kingdom’s most important oil transport routes, the East-West Pipeline across the Arabian desert.

The 1,200-km (745-mile) East-West Pipeline linking Saudi Arabia’s Gulf oil fields ​to the Red Sea has ​been the kingdom’s principal ⁠export route while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted by nearly seven months of war, which has killed thousands of people across the region.

Since the pipeline was shut ​after Friday’s attack, traders say a prolonged closure could cut off as much as 4% of ​global oil supply.

Saudi ⁠Arabia has not said when operations might resume.

But US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC on Tuesday that crude oil should be flowing through the pipeline within days.

Saudi Arabia has led a coalition battling the Houthis since 2015.

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The conflict had largely quietened under ⁠a ceasefire ​in recent years, but reignited when the Houthis pushed back forces aligned ​with the Yemeni government this month.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman phoned US President Donald Trump last week seeking military support, which so far has ​been limited to intelligence aid.

Pakistan condemns attack

Prime Minister on Wednesday strongly condemned the attempted drone attack on the Holy Site of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, calling it a “dastardly and heinous” act, while lauding the Royal Saudi Armed Forces for their swift action.

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the dastardly and heinous attempted drone attack against the Holy Site of Makkah Al-Mukarramah,” PM Shehbaz said in a post.

“The people of Pakistan are saddened and perturbed by this outrageous act. There can be no words strong enough to capture the depth of anguish and sorrow felt by us at this reprehensible and unforgivable act.

“We salute the extraordinary vigilance, courage, and professionalism of the Royal Saudi Armed Forces, for their swift and heroic action,” he said.

PM Shehbaz called upon all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to step back from the brink of further escalation.

“Our region has already suffered far too much from conflict. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only sustainable path towards peace.”

“Pakistan stands unwaveringly, shoulder to shoulder with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the defence of its sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as for the security and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain - a duty that every Pakistani carries close to their heart.”