Mecca:The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen declared on Friday that it had intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by the Houthi group toward Saudi Arabia's Mecca region. The announcement was made amidst ongoing tensions and military operations between the coalition and the Houthi group.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki stated on the social media platform X that the drone, described as launched by the "Houthi terrorist militia," was intercepted and destroyed in the Makkah region.

In response, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree denied the group's involvement, stating on Telegram that the group had not conducted any operations targeting Saudi territory on Friday. Saree further claimed that Saudi Arabia's assertion of intercepting a drone over Mecca was "a massive and egregious falsehood."

These developments follow earlier reports by al-Maliki that the coalition's air defenses had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi cruise missile aimed at western Saudi Arabia. The situation highlights the escalating hostilities between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis, with both parties reporting recent military maneuvers and attacks.

On Thursday, the Houthis announced they had executed six attacks on targets within Saudi Arabia, including oil facilities and airports. The conflict in Yemen has been ongoing since March 2015, with the Saudi-led coalition supporting the internationally recognized government against the Houthis, who took control of the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014.