Saudi Arabia Issues ‘Potential Danger’ Alert for Mecca for Second Time in Under 10 Days
The Saudi Civil Defence issued an alert for the holy city of Mecca, home to Islam’s holiest site, on Thursday. Such warnings usually point to a possible missile threat. Mecca and several other parts of the kingdom were put on alert after the National Early Warning Platform sent out messages about potential danger, the Saudi Civil Defense said.
“A warning has been issued by the National Early Warning Platform in Mecca City to alert of a potential danger,” the Saudi Civil Defense directorate said in a post on X, along with instructions for residents.
Residents Told to Stay Calm and Take Shelter
The Civil Defense asked people to stay calm, follow official instructions and move at once to the nearest safe place, such as inside a building or an interior room away from windows. They were told to remain there until the danger had passed.
Residents were also advised to keep away from open areas, windows, glass, balconies and rooftops, to avoid crowds or dangerous areas, and not to leave their homes or buildings until the danger was over.
Anyone outdoors was told to step into the nearest building or take cover behind a solid barrier. Drivers who received the warning were asked to pull over, away from bridges and high-rise buildings.
The Civil Defense further cautioned people against taking photographs or going near dangerous locations. Those who notice any danger were asked to call 911 in Mecca, Medina, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 998 elsewhere in the kingdom. Authorities also urged residents to follow instructions issued through official channels.
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The alerts were lifted a few minutes later.
Second Alert in Less Than 10 Days
Alerts in recent weeks have often come before attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. This is the second time in under 10 days that authorities have issued such a warning for Mecca. Separate warnings were also sent for other areas along Saudi Arabia’s western coast, including the Red Sea governorate of Yanbu and the Taef, Jeddah and Tabuk regions.
Last week, Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of targeting Mecca with a drone, which was shot down. The group has denied the claim.
The previous alert, on September 15, followed the interception and destruction of a Houthi drone by the kingdom’s air defences south of Mecca, before it could enter the prohibited airspace. A few days later, the Houthis targeted the Saudi capital Riyadh for the first time in years, a fresh escalation in the conflict.
Background: Houthi-Saudi Fighting Amid Iran-US War
The Iran-backed Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government have been engaged in renewed fighting during Tehran’s war with the US. The conflict began after the Houthis declared a maritime blockade on the kingdom and attacked its ships in the Red Sea.
Earlier this month, the Houthis took control of strategic coastal areas overlooking the Bab al-Mandab strait, which is vital for Saudi oil exports, after seizing territory from Saudi-backed government forces.
The 2022 Saudi-Houthi truce fell apart in July, when the Houthis allowed an Iranian flight to land directly at Sanaa airport. Saudi-led forces responded with an airstrike on the runway at Sana’a International Airport to prevent or punish the landing. The Houthis then launched retaliatory strikes towards southern Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Coalition Says It Shot Down 6 Ballistic Missiles
The Saudi coalition later said it had intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis. Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, said its forces destroyed all six missiles launched by the Iran-backed group. “Escalation and violations by the terrorist Houthi militia will be dealt with firmly,” al-Malki added.