Fighting intensifies in Yemen as Houthis deny targeting Mecca

Yemen’s Houthis have rejected Saudi claims that they targeted Islam’s holiest city, Mecca, as casualties surge in the war between the internationally recognised government and the Iran-allied Houthis. Earlier, Saudi-led coalition forces said they had intercepted three cruise missiles launched towards Riyadh, along with drones launched towards Mecca and Saudi Arabia’s southern regions.

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence Authority said debris from the interception of two ballistic missiles fell in the village of Sabuhah in Mecca province. “This hostile targeting of civilian objects constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and reflects the dangerous hostile approach pursued by the Houthi militia,” Saudi Arabia’s civil defence said early on Thursday.

Suspected Houthi missile strikes in the kingdom came as fighting intensified inside Yemen between the Saudi-backed forces fighting on behalf of the internationally recognised government and Houthi fighters.