Saudi Arabia says it intercepted a drone before it entered Islam’s holiest city, calling pilgrims’ security a ‘red line’

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the strike as a "heinous" attack. Mecca is Islam's holiest site and the focal point of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

A massive rally was held in Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, rejecting Saudi allegations regarding the targeting of Mecca. At this gathering of approximately one million people, participants dismissed the Saudi claims as propaganda and expressed their support for the Yemeni armed forces.

Houthi leader Mohammed al-Bukhaiti has warned Pakistan and Türkiye of military retaliation if they intervene alongside Saudi Arabia, as Riyadh’s conflict with the group puts their new defence pact under scrutiny.

Pakistan’s relationship with Saudi Arabia has entered a new strategic phase. The signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye

The proposal follows Saudi outreach to the US, Egypt, Pakistan and Oman as Riyadh seeks international assistance in responding to a renewed Houthi offensive

Houthis claim a Saudi F-15 kill and Riyadh downs a drone near Mecca. Over 100,000 displaced, Brent at $107 and US diesel above $6 a gallon.

Saudi Arabia activated emergency alerts in the holy city for the first time since Yemen's Houthi group intensified its drone and missile attacks on the kingdom.

China has privately asked Tehran to help rein in Yemen's Houthis after an appeal to Beijing by Saudi Arabia following the Iran-backed group's military blitz in the past week, according to three Iranian sources familiar with ​the matter.