The key facts

  • The Saudi Arabia-led coalition reported a drone shot down near Mecca on October 30
  • Major General Turki al-Malki stated the drone was launched by the Houthis from Yemeni territory
  • Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree rejected involvement and said Mecca was not a target

Drone intercepted amid contradictory claims from both sides

On October 30, the Saudi Arabia-led coalition of Arab states reported that an unmanned aerial vehicle had been shot down in the western part of the country, near Mecca. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki stated on his page on the social network X that forces intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by the Houthis from Yemeni territory, as reported by Zamon.uz.

The Houthis deny involvement

Houthi movement spokesman Yahya Saree rejected any involvement in the attack. According to him, the movement's forces did not attempt to strike Saudi Arabia on October 30. Saree emphasized that the Houthis' military operations target the kingdom's oil facilities and military bases, and that Mecca was not a target.

Context of the conflict

Saudi Arabia leads a coalition of Arab states that supports the forces of Yemen's government: the coalition provides military assistance to government forces fighting the Houthis and carries out airstrikes on their positions. In response, the Houthis conduct operations against Saudi Arabia's infrastructure. Against this backdrop, the contradiction between the parties' statements about the drone's origin remains unresolved: no independent confirmation of either version is available in published reports.