India Expresses Concern Over Mecca Drone Attack

NEW DELHI- India on September 16 expressed deep concern over a drone attack near Mecca. It called for the early restoration of peace and stability in the region as fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi group continued to escalate.

Indian said the incident was “particularly concerning”, given the religious significance of the Saudi Arabian city.

“We are deeply concerned at the drone attack near Makkah (Mecca). India reiterates its condemnation of attacks on the sovereign territory of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and of actions that endanger civilian lives and infrastructure. The incident near Makkah is particularly concerning, given the special significance of the city to Muslims across the world,” it said.

Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Malki said the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone launched by the Houthis in southern Mecca at 6:50 p.m. on September 15, before it entered the prohibited airspace of the Holy City, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Al-Malki described the incident as a “deliberate act” and said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and Umrah performers was a “red line”.

The incident came amid intensified cross-border hostilities, with the Houthi group claiming that Saudi warplanes had carried out 52 airstrikes across five Yemeni provinces over the previous 24 hours.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets carried out the strikes after taking off from air bases in the southwestern Saudi city of Khamis Mushait and the western city of Taif.

According to Sarea, the strikes hit Taiz in southwestern Yemen, Al-Jawf in the north, Al-Bayda in central Yemen, and Saada and Amran in the north. He alleged that schools, bridges, roads and other civilian infrastructure were among the targets.

Sarea said the strikes “will not go unanswered”, suggesting further Houthi retaliation against Saudi Arabia. There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities on the Houthi claims.

The escalation comes amid a Houthi offensive launched on September 3 along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The group captured the strategic port city of Mocha on September 10 before advancing into the Bab al-Mandab area and seizing Mayun Island on September 11. (IANS)