India expresses alarm over drone attack attempt targeting Mecca

New Delhi has expressed serious concern over a drone attack attempt on Mecca, the holiest city in Islam, according to official statements. The unmanned aerial vehicle was intercepted on September 15, according to Saudi Arabian officials who confirmed the incident.

The interception represents the second documented attempt by Houthi forces to target Mecca using aerial weapons systems. A ballistic missile attack was launched against the city in July 2017, said Turki al-Malki, a spokesperson for Saudi authorities, in a statement regarding the incident.

The repeated attempts to strike the sacred Islamic site have drawn international concern from multiple nations, including India, which maintains significant ties with Saudi Arabia and the broader Gulf region. The incidents underscore the growing threat posed by unmanned systems in regional security dynamics.

The Houthi movement, based in Yemen, has been engaged in a prolonged conflict with Saudi Arabia and its allies. The group has demonstrated increasing capability to deploy long-range weapons systems, prompting heightened security measures around critical infrastructure across the Gulf states.