The Saudi Civil Defence issued another “Potential Danger” alert for the holy city of Mecca, the second in less than 10 days, raising fears of renewed missile threats.

The warning, announced via the National Early Warning Platform, also extended to Yanbu, Taif, Jeddah, and Tabuk along Saudi Arabia’s western coast. Authorities later lifted the alerts, but they came just hours before the Saudi‑led coalition intercepted six ballistic missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia.

Coalition spokesperson Turki al‑Maliki vowed firm retaliation, calling the attacks “escalations and violations” by the Iran‑backed Houthis. Last week, Saudi Arabia accused the group of attempting to target Mecca with a drone — the first such attempt since 2017 — though Houthis denied the claim.

The latest alert follows a September 15 incident when Saudi defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca. Days later, Riyadh itself was targeted, marking a sharp escalation in the conflict.

The Houthis, locked in war with the Saudi‑backed Yemeni government since 2015, have intensified strikes amid Tehran’s confrontation with Washington. Earlier this month, they seized strategic coastal areas near the Bab al‑Mandab strait, vital for Saudi oil exports, further destabilising the region.