Emergency alert issued in Makkah, other Saudi areas over attack fears

An emergency alert has been issued in the holy city of Makkah and various other areas of Saudi Arabia over fears of a possible attack. The alert was issued by the country's Civil Defence authorities on Thursday. Such messages are usually sent through Saudi Arabia's national early warning system when there is a risk of a possible missile or drone attack.

Saudi authorities said emergency messages were sent to residents of Makkah to warn of a possible danger. At the same time, separate alerts were issued in the important Red Sea coastal areas of Yanbu, Taif, Jeddah and Tabuk. However, the alerts were withdrawn within minutes of being issued.

Concern has arisen over Saudi Arabia's alert due to recent developments. The report said Iran-backed Yemen's Houthi rebels usually activate such warning signals just before an attack.

Earlier last week, Saudi Arabia alleged that the Houthis attempted a drone attack targeting the holy city of Makkah for the first time since 2017. While Saudi forces claimed to have shot down the drone, the Houthis rejected the allegation of an attack targeting Makkah as baseless.

The report mentioned that within days of this, the Houthis carried out a major attack on the Saudi capital Riyadh for the first time in several years. This has further increased ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Since 2015, a Saudi-led coalition has been conducting military operations against the Houthis in support of Yemen's internationally recognised government. With the Houthis intensifying attacks in recent times, the conflict in Yemen has become newly linked to regional tensions.

According to the report, earlier this month, the Houthis took control of several strategically important areas after pushing back Saudi-backed government forces. As a result, it has been claimed that their control has also increased in the coastal areas of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, one of the most important routes for Saudi Arabia's oil exports.

Earlier in July, the Houthis allowed an Iranian plane to land in Sanaa, defying Yemeni airspace controlled by Saudi Arabia. The report said the fragile ceasefire in place since 2022 subsequently collapsed and attacks began one after another.

Subsequently, the Houthis announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and said they were carrying out attacks targeting the country's oil tankers and various installations.

Amid these developments, the sudden issuance of emergency alerts in Makkah and various other areas of Saudi Arabia has created fresh concern over the country's security situation. However, the report did not say whether any attack or damage occurred after Thursday's alert.

Source: AFP