The holy city of Mecca was put on alert again Thursday as Saudi Arabia confronted another wave of Houthi missile threat, with emergency warnings extending across several major parts of the kingdom. The Saudi Civil Defence warned of a "potential danger" in Mecca and issued similar alerts for Jeddah, Yanbu and Tabuk. People were told to remain inside buildings, preferably away from windows and glass.
This comes less than a week after Saudi Arabia placed Mecca under an emergency warning on September 18. The Houthis denied allegations that they had attempted to attack the holy city.
"A warning has been issued by the National Early Warning Platform in Mecca City to alert of a potential danger," the Civil Defence said in a post. Residents were advised to remain inside buildings, preferably away from windows and glass. Those outdoors were told to move into a nearby building or take cover behind a solid barrier.
Authorities also warned people to stay away from open spaces, balconies and rooftops. They were asked to avoid gatherings and refrain from filming the situation. The alerts covered Mecca and Taif in western Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea port city of Yanbu farther north, Jeddah and the northwestern province of Tabuk.
The warnings were later lifted.
In separate all-clear notices, Saudi Civil Defence said the danger had passed in Mecca, Taif and Tabuk. Residents were nevertheless told to continue following official instructions and avoid gathering or filming.
MECCA WAS PUT UNDER ALERT ON SEPTEMBER 18
Saudi Arabia has faced a series of attacks attributed to the Houthis in recent days.
Thursday's warning came less than a week after Saudi Arabia issued an alert for Mecca on September 18, marking the first such warning for the holy city. Taif, Khamis Mushait and Al Ula province were also placed under alert at the time. The Houthis denied Saudi allegations that they had attempted to target Mecca.
Two days later, however, Saudi authorities said the Houthis had attempted to strike Riyadh with a ballistic missile. Saudi Arabia has reportedly sought additional air-defence support from Pakistan and US, although it remains unclear whether Riyadh has received any supplies.
The latest alerts are unfolding against a broader escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.
On July 20, the Houthis announced a "maritime blockade" against Saudi Arabia. They later claimed missile and drone attacks against Saudi-linked vessels and sites. The Houthis have controlled Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and several parts of the country since 2014. Saudi Arabia has led a coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government since March 2015.
