RIYADH/SANAA/CAIRO/WASHINGTON – Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday evening before it entered the prohibited airspace of the holy city, the Saudi-led coalition said.

Coalition spokesman Turki Al Maliki said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims is a "red line," adding that the coalition would not hesitate to take necessary measures to deter further Houthi attacks.

An official from the Houthis rejected the allegation on Wednesday.

"The claims about targeting Mecca are a worn-out lie that has been used before and no longer fools anyone," Hazem al-Assad wrote on X. 

Houthis: Saudi warplanes carried out 52 strikes across Yemen

In Sanaa, Yemen's Houthi group said on Tuesday that Saudi warplanes had carried out 52 airstrikes across five provinces over the past 24 hours, as cross-border hostilities between the two sides continued to escalate.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement posted on social media platform X that F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets carried out the strikes after taking off from air bases in the southwestern Saudi city of Khamis Mushait and the western city of Taif.

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Sarea said the strikes hit the southwestern province of Taiz, northern Al-Jawf, central Al-Bayda, and the northern provinces of Saada and Amran. He alleged that schools, bridges, roads and other civilian infrastructure were among the targets.

Sarea said the strikes "will not go unanswered," suggesting further Houthi retaliation against Saudi Arabia.

There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities on the Houthi claims.

Separately, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV said on Tuesday that 3 civilians, including 2 children, were killed and 2 others wounded in airstrikes on the Dhubab and Maqbanah districts of Taiz province.

The broadcaster also reported further strikes on Tuesday on a government complex in Khadir district, southeast of Taiz province, saying there were casualties without providing further details.

The strikes followed Houthi missile and drone attacks on Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif on Monday, which the Saudi-led coalition said injured 13 civilians. The coalition vowed a "responsible and firm" response.

The cross-border escalation comes amid a Houthi offensive launched on Sept 3 that has shifted front lines along Yemen's Red Sea coast. The group captured the strategic port city of Mocha on Sept 10 before advancing into the Bab al-Mandab area and seizing Mayun Island at the heart of the strait on Sept 11.

Yemen's conflict erupted in late 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government.

Egyptian president, Saudi crown prince meet over ties, regional security

In Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday met with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to discuss ties and regional security.

During the talk, the two leaders agreed to advance bilateral cooperation and remove obstacles hindering their increased trade and investment flows, according to an official statement from the Egyptian Presidency.

Sisi expressed Egypt's rejection and condemnation of any attacks or threats that undermine Saudi Arabia's sovereignty, stability, and territorial integrity, the statement read.

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He reiterated Egypt's support for the measures taken by the kingdom to safeguard its security, as well as for efforts to reach a comprehensive and sustainable political solution to the crisis in Yemen, it said.

The Saudi crown prince, for his part, praised Egypt's support for regional stability and peace and its solidarity with the Kingdom amid recent geopolitical challenges, it added.

The meeting came amid the escalating cross-border confrontation between Yemen's Houthi group and Saudi Arabia.

US urges citizens to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia

Also on Tuesday, the US State Department urged American citizens to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia, citing heightened security risks amid Iranian drone and missile attacks.

A travel advisory issued by the department warned of the "risk of Iranian drone and missile targeting of American interests, armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans and local laws regarding social media activity."

"Following the onset of hostilities between the United States and Iran on Feb 28, 2026, there has been an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran," it said.

The advisory came after Riyadh issued alerts in Mecca and other areas amid alleged Houthi attacks.

Riyadh said it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday evening before it entered the prohibited airspace of the holy city. The Houthis later denied the allegation.

The Houthis "have threatened to attack Saudi Arabia again," the advisory said, adding that falling debris from intercepted drones and missiles is also a risk.

"US citizens living and working near energy infrastructure and military bases may be at increased risk, especially closer to the border with Yemen," it said, designating the Yemen border region as Level 4 "Do not travel," the highest advisory level due to "life-threatening risks."