Saudi Arabia says debris from intercepted missiles falls in Makkah region

Saudi Arabia said debris from two ballistic missiles intercepted by its air defence systems fell in the Makkah region, as tensions between the kingdom and Yemen’s Houthi movement continued to escalate.

Saudi state television reported that debris landed in Sabuhah village, around 35 kilometres northeast of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, and Wadi al-Maghmas, approximately 21 kilometres east of the holy site.

In a statement issued early Thursday, Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence said the missiles had been launched towards the region before being intercepted and destroyed.

The department condemned the incident, describing the alleged targeting of civilian infrastructure as a violation of international humanitarian law.

“This hostile targeting of civilian objects constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and reflects the dangerous hostile approach pursued by the Houthi militia,” the Civil Defence said.

The Houthis have repeatedly rejected Saudi allegations that they target Makkah and Madinah, Islam’s two holiest cities. The group maintains that its military operations are directed at military and strategic installations elsewhere in Saudi Arabia.

Makkah holds particular religious significance for Muslims worldwide as the location of Islam’s holiest site and the annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, which draws millions of worshippers each year.

Renewed hostilities threaten regional shipping

The latest incident comes amid renewed hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, whose conflict has remained a source of instability in the Arabian Peninsula.

The Houthis seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, prompting Saudi Arabia to launch a military intervention the following year in support of Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

A United Nations-brokered truce in 2022 largely brought fighting to a halt. However, hostilities resumed earlier this year, with the Houthis carrying out missile and drone attacks against Saudi territory while Riyadh launched airstrikes in Yemen.

The escalation has also raised concerns over the security of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

The waterway is a vital route for international shipping and trade, making any disruption a potential threat to commercial traffic passing between Europe and Asia.