Saudi Arabia issued emergency alerts on Tuesday warning of a “potential danger” in Mecca, Jeddah and Taif. The alerts came amid reports of missiles being fired towards the kingdom’s western coast by Iran-backed Houthi militants.
The Yemen-based Houthis had also fired missiles at Saudi cities and air bases a day earlier.
The alert was issued by Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defense at around 2.48 pm (IST). Residents were advised to move to safe places, stay indoors and follow official safety instructions.
Reports suggest that this may be the first time in recent history that an aerial hostile-condition alert has been issued for Mecca, home to one of Islam’s two holiest shrines.
Around three hours after the alert, the Saudi Civil Defense Directorate posted on X that the danger in Mecca had passed. It asked residents to continue following safety instructions and avoid gatherings and filming. In case of an emergency, people were advised to call 911.
According to Israeli newspaper Hayom, the alerts were triggered after the Houthis launched a missile barrage towards Saudi Arabia’s western coast. Mecca is located around 70 kilometres inland from the Red Sea on the country’s western side.
The alert in Mecca has raised concerns about the conflict spreading further. The National Early Warning Platform for Emergencies had warned residents of a “potential danger” in Mecca, while similar warnings were issued in Jeddah and Taif.
Saudi Civil Defense asked people to stay away from crowded and open areas and take shelter indoors. However, the authorities did not immediately give details about what had triggered the warnings.
The alerts came a day after the Houthis launched a series of ballistic missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia. The attacks reportedly injured 13 people in the southern part of the kingdom.
Although the Mecca alert was later lifted after authorities said the danger had passed, residents were still advised to avoid gatherings and not to film or photograph the situation.
The Times of Israel reported earlier on Tuesday that at least six Saudi cities had received alerts from the Civil Defense Directorate amid what it described as “apparent Houthi attacks”. The areas included Jeddah, Abha, Jazan, AlUla and Taif, as well as Yanbu, the country’s main oil-exporting terminal on the Red Sea coast.
The alerts were issued while Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman was in Egypt on a state visit. He is expected to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to discuss “issues of mutual interest between Egypt and Saudi Arabia”, Arab News reported.