Mecca alert: Mecca put on air raid alert for 1st time; Iran- Backed Houthis claimed destroying Saudi Jet, Is Saudi Arabia Facing Consequences for Backing Israel?  

Saudi Arabia placed The Holy city of Mecca on air raid alert for the first time in History after their air defense intercepted a Houthi drone. Iran-Backed Yemen’s Houthi rebels also claimed destroying a Saudi Jet.

The Saudi Civil Defense triggered sirens and alerts around the western coast areas, including Mecca, Jeddah, and Taif. When the Saudi air defense system intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone around south of Mecca. The administration of Saudi Arabia is extremely concerned about it since pilgrim’s safety is at risk. Since the Houthis launched a ballistic missile in July 2017 and this is the second time they have attacked Mecca.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the coalition lead by Saudi Arabia strongly denounced the action. “The security of pilgrims and the Two Holy Mosques is a strong red line,” according to coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki. During the security scare, air travel to Medina was also momentarily suspended. The attack on Saudi Arabia raises concerns for Global Energy Markets as the six-month confrontation between the United States and Iran has already had an impact on global energy markets, reducing trade through the Strait of Hormuz to a trickle.

Shortly after the alert made to global headlines the Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed that they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over the Marib Province by a regionally manufactured missile.

While the rebel group claimed this encounter, on the another hand, a member of the Houthi political bureau Hizam Al-Asad referred to the accusation and said “Claims of targeting venerable Mecca are a nauseating lie that has been consumed before and no longer fools anyone.”

The 2015 Saudi-led military intervention in the Yemeni Civil War is the primary reason behind the Houthi attacks from Yemen into Saudi Arabia. In response to years of devastating Saudi airstrikes and financial blockades on Yemen, the Houthi rebels considered their cross-border missile and drone strikes as an essential form of retaliation.

Although the war originated out of political disputes within Yemen, it quickly developed into a proxy war. As Iran provided the Houthis ballistic missile and long-range drone training, as well as advanced technological elements and smuggling blueprints. With this support, the Houthis were able to significantly increase the range of their strikes, moving from short-range border clashes too deep within Saudi territory, including Mecca and Riyadh.

As the conflict between these Middle East countries revolves around their point of views and ideology, The Silicon Review asks: Who get most affected by the consequences when two countries go on full fledge war?

Q: Why the air red alert placed in the holy city of Mecca?
A: Saudi Arabia placed The Holy city of Mecca on air raid alert for the first time in History after their air defense intercepted a Houthi drone.

Q: What was the statement issued by Yemen’s political party?
A: a member of the Houthi political bureau Hizam Al-Asad referred to the accusation and said “Claims of targeting venerable Mecca are a nauseating lie that has been consumed before and no longer fools anyone.”

Q: Why Iran is backing Yemen’s rebel group Houthi?

A: Because in the Iran - Israel war Saudi Arabia supported Israel.

Q: What was Houthi’s claim?

A: Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed that they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over the Marib Province by a regionally manufactured missile.

Q: What is the primary reason behind the retaliation of Yemen’s Houthi?

A: The 2015 Saudi-led military intervention in the Yemeni Civil War is the primary reason behind the Houthi attacks from Yemen into Saudi Arabia.