Houthis Claim Saudi Arabia is Spreading False Information Regarding Mecca Security
The Iran-backed Houthim armed group has denied threatening Mecca and several holy sites in Saudi Arabia from Yemeni territory. This rebuttal follows warnings issued by Saudi authorities regarding threats in several cities.
Houthi military sources stated there is no threat from Yemen targeting Mecca or other holy sites, according to the Houthi-run Saba news agency on Wednesday. The source accused Saudi Arabia of spreading false information to create an image that Yemen is threatening Mecca. The Houthis described this as an attempt to discredit their group and garner sympathy within the Muslim world, viewing the move as an old Saudi tactic.
The denial came shortly after the Saudi Arabian Directorate of Civil Defence issued warnings regarding threats in Khamis Mushait, Abha, Taif, Mecca, and Jeddah on Wednesday. Civil Defence subsequently stated that the threats had passed across all those regions. Saudi authorities requested that citizens continue to follow safety instructions, avoid crowds, and refrain from recording the situation, advising residents to contact emergency services via 911 if necessary.
The Houthi statement did not specify the nature of the threats mentioned by the Saudi authorities or the source of said threats. The Houthis and Saudi Arabia have a long history of conflict within the Yemeni war. The Iran-backed group controls much of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition intervening in Yemen since 2015 to support the internationally recognised government.
In recent developments, tensions have escalated as the Houthis expanded their military operations along the western coast of Yemen. This movement extends towards the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital route for international shipping. The United States has affirmed it will not negotiate with the Houthis, despite communication occurring through security channels during the Houthi movement towards Bab al-Mandab.
Saudi Arabia faces difficult choices in its conflict with the Houthis. Military escalation risks triggering a regional war, while political avenues remain deadlocked. The Houthi group has expanded its control over territories along the Red Sea coast, including Mayun Island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is a strategic global shipping lane. Yemeni envoy Abdullah al-Saadi has warned the UN regarding Houthi efforts to control the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, which threatens global security.
Furthermore, crude oil prices surged above US$100 per barrel following the closure of the East-West Saudi pipeline due to drone attacks, sparking fears of a global supply crisis. Meanwhile, military commanders from the US, Israel, and Arab nations held a secret meeting in Germany to discuss defence coordination in the face of tensions with Iran. Leading the Cabinet, Saudi Arabia has emphasised that the security and territorial integrity of its nation is an absolute principle that cannot be compromised amidst Houthi attacks.