Houthis deny launching drone toward Mecca and accuse Saudi Arabia of fabricating interception claim

Yemen’s Houthi movement denied launching an operation toward Saudi Arabia on Friday after the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone over the Mecca region.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group “has not carried out any operation today targeting Saudi territory” and called the Saudi claim of intercepting a drone over Mecca “a massive and egregious falsehood.”

The Saudi-led coalition said earlier Friday that a drone launched by the Houthis had been intercepted and destroyed in the Mecca region.

Saree said Houthi operations target Saudi oil facilities and military bases, accusing Riyadh of spreading “fabrications and lies.”

The denial came a day after the Houthis said they had carried out six attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia, including oil facilities and airports.

The two sides have traded conflicting claims repeatedly during the latest escalation. The Houthis have previously denied targeting Mecca or Medina, while Saudi authorities have accused the group of launching drones and missiles toward the two holy cities.