# Saudi Arabia shoots down Houthi drone near Mecca

> Iran-aligned Houthis escalate attacks on Saudi Arabia, threatening holy city and global oil supplies.
- Title: Saudi Arabia shoots down Houthi drone near Mecca | Shortify
- Summary: Iran-aligned Houthis escalate attacks on Saudi Arabia, threatening holy city and global oil supplies. Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia are disrupting global…
- Keywords: saudi arabia, houthis, yemen, mecca, drone strike, iran-aligned, oil pipeline, strait of hormuz, middle east conflict, energy markets, bab el-mandeb, news
- Source: New York Post — https://nypost.com/2026/09/16/world-news/saudi-arabia-shoots-down-houthi-drone-strike-outside-of-mecca
- Published: 2026-09-16T07:45:32+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: saudi arabia, houthis, yemen, mecca, drone strike, iran-aligned, oil pipeline, strait of hormuz, middle east conflict, energy markets, bab el-mandeb, news
## Drone intercepted near Mecca
Saudi air defenses destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday evening before it could enter airspace over the holy city.
## Second attempt on holy city
This marks only the second Houthi attempt to target Mecca, following a ballistic missile launch in July 2017. Saudi officials called Mecca's security a red line.
## Week of coordinated strikes
The Houthis announced multiple major attacks on Saudi Arabia this week, including strikes on an air base Monday that wounded 13 civilians.
## Oil pipeline knocked offline
A separate attack Friday damaged the East-West Pipeline, Saudi Arabia's main export route. The 745-mile pipeline could supply 4% of global oil if it stays shut.
## Houthis control key shipping strait
The Houthis seized parts of Yemen's Red Sea coast overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb, one of the world's most important shipping straits, threatening Saudi oil exports.
## Houthis deny Mecca targeting
Houthi officials called allegations of targeting Mecca an outright lie, though Saudi Arabia issued security alerts for the city after the drone interception.

> an outright lie
## Key takeaway

Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia are disrupting global energy markets and threatening critical infrastructure, with Mecca's security now a major concern.