Saudi Arabia issues fresh missile, drone alert for Mecca and other regions
Saudi authorities issued a missile and drone threat alert for Mecca and several other regions, the second such warning this month, as the Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting six Houthi missiles.
Saudi Arabia's National Early Warning Platform issued an alert on Tuesday over a potential missile or drone threat affecting Mecca and several other parts of the kingdom, the second such warning for the holy city this month.
Separate warnings were issued for the Red Sea governorate of Yanbu as well as the Taif, Jeddah and Tabuk regions. The alerts were lifted a few minutes later.
The warning messages directed residents to move immediately to safer locations, such as inside a building or an interior room away from windows, and to stay there until the danger had passed. People were also asked to remain indoors while the threat persisted and to avoid open spaces, windows, glass, balconies, rooftops, crowds and other potentially hazardous areas.
Those who were outdoors when the alert was issued were told to enter the nearest building or take cover behind a solid barrier. Motorists were instructed to pull over safely at the side of the road and to keep away from bridges and high-rise buildings, according to the Saudi Civil Defense. Authorities also advised against taking photographs or approaching areas deemed dangerous.
Under the Civil Defense's guidance, anyone who spotted a danger was asked to call 911 in Mecca, Medina, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, while 998 was provided as the emergency number for the rest of the kingdom. Residents were urged to rely on instructions and updates issued through official channels.
Earlier in the day, the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said its forces had intercepted six ballistic missiles launched by the Iran-backed group, thwarting attacks aimed at Taif and Yanbu.
"Escalations and violations by the terrorist Houthi militia will be dealt with firmly," coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said in a series of posts on X.
Alerts have been issued in recent weeks amid an increase in attacks by the Houthis, who control Yemen's most populous areas and much of the north. The group has been launching attacks towards Saudi Arabia since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July, with strikes targeting Saudi vessels in the Red Sea.