Iran warns Saudi Arabia over Mecca drone attack claim

Iran has warned against drawing conclusions from Saudi Arabia’s claim that a Houthi drone was intercepted near the holy city of Mecca, urging regional countries not to use the incident to fuel tensions.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said any attack or threat against Islamic holy sites, including Mecca and Medina, was condemnable. 

At the same time, he said the reported interception of a drone could not by itself be used to accuse a particular party.

His remarks came after Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the city’s restricted airspace. Saudi authorities described the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims as a “red line”.

The Houthis have denied targeting Mecca, calling the Saudi allegation false.

Baqaei urged vigilance and cautioned against what he described as possible “false flag” operations, saying the issue of holy-site security should not be politicised or used to deepen divisions among Muslim countries.

The incident comes amid escalating fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis, with attacks and security alerts increasing across parts of Saudi Arabia.

-AAH