Saudi Arabia briefly alerts Mecca, Jeddah, Taif and Yanbu as two Houthi missiles are intercepted

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence briefly issued alerts on Saturday warning of potential danger in four western areas, including the holy city of Mecca, before announcing minutes later that the danger had passed, Reuters reported (https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-civil-defense-says-danger-passed-after-brief-alerts-mecca-jeddah-taif-2026-10-24/).

The alerts covered Mecca province, the Red Sea city of Jeddah, nearby Taif and the coastal city of Yanbu, according to Reuters and The Times of Israel (https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/saudi-civil-defense-warning-of-potential-danger-in-mecca-jeddah-warning-rescinded-minutes-later/). Residents were briefly instructed to proceed to the nearest safe place, and the agency repeated its legal warning against sharing images or information related to countering missiles and drones.

The Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi militia towards Taif and Yanbu, coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki said, as reported by The Times of Israel (https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/saudi-led-coalition-says-it-destroyed-two-houthi-ballistic-missiles-fired-at-kingdom/) and The Siasat Daily (https://www.siasat.com/emergency-sirens-sound-across-makkah-jeddah-two-others-3563563/).

The alerts came on the same morning the coalition intercepted a ballistic missile launched towards Riyadh and a drone in the Eastern Province, Al Arabiya reported (https://english.alarabiya.net/News/saudi-arabia/2026/10/24/saudi-arabia-issues-early-warning-alerts-for-mecca-jeddah-taif-and-yanbu). The Gulf kingdom has come under repeated attack from the Iran-backed Houthis in recent weeks as Yemen’s civil war, dormant since a 2022 ceasefire, erupted again in July, according to The Times of Israel.

Sources:

• Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-civil-defense-says-danger-passed-after-brief-alerts-mecca-jeddah-taif-2026-10-24/
• The Times of Israel (alerts): https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/saudi-civil-defense-warning-of-potential-danger-in-mecca-jeddah-warning-rescinded-minutes-later/
• The Times of Israel (missiles): https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/saudi-led-coalition-says-it-destroyed-two-houthi-ballistic-missiles-fired-at-kingdom/
• The Siasat Daily: https://www.siasat.com/emergency-sirens-sound-across-makkah-jeddah-two-others-3563563/
• Al Arabiya: https://english.alarabiya.net/News/saudi-arabia/2026/10/24/saudi-arabia-issues-early-warning-alerts-for-mecca-jeddah-taif-and-yanbu