Riyadh, September 16 (TNA) Fearing fresh strikes by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday issued emergency alerts for six cities, including the holy city of Mecca, as well as Jeddah, Taif, Abha, Jazan and Yanbu, before lifting them shortly after, authorities said.
The National Early Warning Platform for Emergencies, run by the Saudi Civil Defence, sent out alerts warning of “potential danger” and advised residents to avoid crowded and open areas, stay away from windows, balconies and rooftops, and immediately move indoors until the all-clear was given. In Mecca, the alert was activated for the first time since the recent escalation in Houthi attacks, prompting anxiety among pilgrims and residents before authorities announced that the threat had passed.
The move came a day after Houthi fighters launched a series of ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi territory, targeting air bases and cities in the south-west. The Saudi-led coalition said strikes on Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif on Monday injured at least 13 civilians and damaged seven houses and two vehicles.
Colonel Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the coalition, condemned the attacks as deliberate targeting of civilian areas and vowed a firm response to the Houthi campaign, which has intensified in recent days. The Civil Defence later posted on X: “Alert: The danger has passed in Mecca City. For your safety, continue following Civil Defence instructions and avoid gathering and filming. In case of emergency, call 911.”
The alerts underscore the growing reach of Houthi long-range drones and missiles, which have repeatedly struck deep inside Saudi Arabia despite years of an air campaign and border defences, and come amid wider regional tensions involving Iran and its allied militias.