Saudi forces shoot down Houthi drone near Mecca

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels near Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. The Saudi-led coalition announced the interception on Wednesday, saying the drone was shot down south of Mecca. The Houthis denied the accusation, calling it a lie. The incident triggered brief air raid alerts in southern Saudi Arabia, including Mecca, for the first time since the regional conflict began. Yemen has been involved in the war since July, and the Houthis recently captured the Red Sea coastline.