Update(2145ET): Drone attack on Mecca from unknown location being reported overnight, though the Saudi coalition has been prompted to blame Yemen’s Shia Houthis:
Saudi Arabia and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have condemned what they described as a “heinous” Houthi attack targeting Mecca.
A Houthi official, however, rejected Saudi Arabia’s account that its forces had shot down a drone heading toward the holy city, calling the report “a worn-out lie.”- AFP
And emerging reporting via Al Jazeera:
The Saudi-led coalition spokesperson, Turki al-Maliki, said Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepted the hostile drone before it entered the restricted airspace on Tuesday evening.
Al-Maliki condemned the incident as an attempt to frighten worshippers and harm civilians, warning that the security of the two holy mosques and pilgrims is a “red line”.
The Houthis have previously denied targeting Mecca, saying that they do not target holy sites.
Currently a number of fake or old videos are circulating; however, the Saudis are reporting the incident.
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Israeli media on Tuesday is awash with reports that the Israeli government is now quietly providing intelligence to Saudi Arabia amid the raging fight with Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The claims definitely ring true given Israel has long faced immediate threats out of Yemen, after earlier in the Gaza war Israeli territory suffered several Houthi ballistic missile hits, including near sensitive facilities like airports. Also, Saudi and Israeli-linked ships are effectively banned from Red Sea shipping amid Houthi attacks.
One Israeli report reads: “Israel and Saudi Arabia are engaged in direct dialogue facilitated by the United States Central Command over potential Israeli intelligence assistance to Riyadh against the Houthis, a regional diplomat told i24NEWS.” Jerusalem Post also says that the intel-sharing is already happening.
“The diplomat said the discussions are intended to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s ability to confront the growing Houthi threat, with Israel potentially supplying intelligence on the group’s military positions, weapons infrastructure and operational plans,” the report adds.
CENTCOM chief Bradley Cooper has been in Saudi Arabia, where a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took place the past weekend. MbS has urgently requested military help from Washington and London. Only Britain is said to be mulling a new Yemen intervention on any serious level. Riyadh is also appealing to Egypt’s President Sisi.
The Times of Israel separately reports that “The goal of the contacts is to share Israeli intelligence that could help Riyadh defend itself.”
The kingdom has of late come under direct ballistic missile and drone attack, and is seeking to especially protect its oil infrastructure, amid efforts to bring the damaged East-West pipeline back online after what appeared to be drones out of Shia militias in Iraq.
Middle East Eye says Netanyahu is ready to once again press a multi-front war:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered “Israel’s services” to countries in the Arabian Peninsula and has expressed a willingness to participate in a “comprehensive war” against Ansar Allah, the Houthi movement in Yemen, Lebanese media have reported.
The report, by Al-Akhbar editor Ibrahim al-Amin, said that Netanyahu was pressing Israel’s security establishment and military to prepare for possible action against Iran and Hezbollah.
Israel has already for months been pummeling south Lebanon, despite what’s supposed to be a ceasefire with Hezbollah, and has moved troops into occupy a ‘buffer zone’.
Amb. Huckabee is not too convincing…
Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee: “I don’t think it’s quite that bad. What we do have is a for sure skirmish between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, but it has not really gone across the region. That’s the good news. The US and the Houthis still have a ceasefire. That’s a good thing.” pic.twitter.com/56iWv0JfVf
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 15, 2026
Saudi-Israeli intelligence sharing would certainly be seen as provocative among Arab populations, including Saudi Arabia’s own; however, it was likely going on during the Syrian proxy war to oust Assad. Gulf-Israeli cooperation against the ‘pro-Shia axis’ also reached a peak during the last decade.