Houthis deny targeting Mecca drone

Saudi Arabia announced on Friday that its coalition forces intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The interception occurred in the region surrounding Mecca, the holiest site in Islam and a destination for millions of pilgrims annually. Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, a coalition spokesperson, confirmed the drone was neutralized before it could reach its target.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree disputed the claim that the group targeted Mecca. In a statement, Saree said the Houthis denied carrying out operations aimed at the city. He stated that their military actions focus on Saudi oil facilities and military bases instead. This marks another instance where the two sides disagree on the intended destination of projectiles. Saudi Arabia has previously reported intercepting missiles and drones bound for Mecca and Medina, while the Houthis have consistently denied targeting either location.

Separately, a tanker vessel caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after an attack by a small boat. The British military reported that the boat attached two explosives to the hull of the tanker as it transited the strait. The explosives were positioned above the waterline. The blasts occurred on Thursday and ignited a fire in the engine room, temporarily disabling the vessel.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, known as UKMTO, did not identify the specific tanker or name the party responsible for the attack. The vessel was sailing approximately 46 kilometers northeast of Khasab, Oman, when the incident took place. UKMTO reported that the crew remained safe and that the incident did not cause environmental damage. The location places the event within a critical shipping lane for global energy transport.

The explosion in the strait coincides with other recent disruptions in the waterway. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced on Thursday that three oil tankers struck mines while attempting to leave the strait via an unauthorized route. UKMTO noted in a report earlier this month that October has become the busiest month for reported attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz since March. That period marks the opening months of the Iran war.

Meanwhile, civil defense teams in eastern Syria searched for missing residents on Friday following deadly flash floods. The Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management reported that at least five people died in rural areas of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour provinces on Thursday. Among the victims were four children. State-run SANA news agency reported that rescue teams freed dozens of people trapped by rising waters or stranded in vehicles. Hundreds of families were evacuated from camps for internally displaced persons in northern Syria.

The flood response continues as teams work to locate survivors in the affected areas. The combination of the drone incident, the tanker fire, and the flash floods represents a series of simultaneous crises affecting the region. Each event has drawn distinct military and civil responses from the parties involved.