By Fatma Younis
Saudi Arabia said Friday it intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels near Mecca, Islam's holiest city, while a tanker caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after explosives were attached to its hull.
Drone intercepted near Mecca
The Saudi-led coalition said the drone was intercepted in the region surrounding Mecca, a destination for millions of Muslim pilgrims annually. Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki confirmed the interception. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree denied any operations targeting Mecca, stating the group's military operations target Saudi oil facilities and military bases. Saudi Arabia has previously reported intercepting missiles and drones headed toward Mecca and Medina, Islam's two holiest cities, which the Houthis have repeatedly denied targeting.
Tanker catches fire in Strait of Hormuz
A tanker caught fire after a small boat attached two explosives to its hull while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, temporarily disabling the vessel, the British military said Friday. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the explosives were attached above the waterline, triggering blasts on Thursday that caused a fire in the engine room. UKMTO did not identify the tanker, which was sailing about 46 kilometers (29 miles) northeast of Khasab, Oman, or attribute responsibility. The crew was safe and there was no environmental impact. The incident follows a Thursday claim by Iran's Revolutionary Guard that three oil tankers had struck mines while attempting to leave the strait through an unauthorized route. UKMTO reported earlier this month that October is already the busiest month for reported attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz since March.
