00:02Saudi Arabia's air defenses destroyed a drone south of Mecca before it could enter prohibited
00:08airspace over the city as fighting escalates between the Iran-backed Houthis and the Yemeni
00:14government's military forces. The Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen on Wednesday said
00:20the drone, intercepted on Tuesday evening, was the second attempt by the Houthis to target Mecca
00:26after a ballistic missile launch in July 2017. They said Mecca is home to some of the holiest
00:33sites in Islam and the focal point of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, and its security is a red line.
00:40They said the attempt will be a mark of shame on the record of violations committed by the Houthis,
00:46as it was a deliberate act intended to provoke the feelings of Muslims. They said they will not
00:52hesitate to take deterrent measures against the militia and its terrorist behavior.
01:00The Houthis denied the claims, saying that their operations targeted Saudi oil facilities
01:06and military bases, away from sacred sites.
01:24The Houthis said they are gaining ground in their fighting along Yemen's west coast, taking control
01:30of several towns and strategic locations, including Parim Island, at the entrance to the key shipping
01:37route of Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Sirianwar Ibrahim said reports on the
01:43drone strike attempt was a grave concern, and it underscores the urgent need to prevent further
01:48escalation in the region. He said there must be an immediate end to attacks on civilian sites
01:53and any action that could endanger holy sites. Oil prices have jumped following disruptions and
01:59uncertainty surrounding shipping routes through the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz,
02:03raising fears that the Iran-U.S. war and broader regional conflict could further affect global markets.
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