United News of Bangladesh

Saudi Arabia has accused Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels of attempting to attack Mecca, Islam's holiest city, prompting condemnation from countries across the region but no immediate offer of military support. The kingdom, a key US ally, described Mecca as a "red line" as it became increasingly drawn into a new front of the Iran war. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, is facing attacks from the Houthis, who are backed by its regional rival Iran. The kingdom is seeking secure routes to export its crude as well as military support, but it remains unclear how either objective can be achieved. A key Saudi oil pipeline has reportedly been out of operation for weeks as the Houthis have targeted infrastructure inside the kingdom and shipping in the Red Sea. Iran continues to target vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, while oil prices remain above $100 a barrel. The Houthis denied launching drones toward Mecca, which lies about 1,100 kilometres (680 miles) from Yemen's border. Saudi authorities said they intercepted and destroyed the drone before it could enter the airspace over Mecca, the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad. Turkey and Pakistan say Saudi Arabia has not sought helpA recently announced defense pact involving Saudi Arabia, NATO member Turkey and nuclear-armed Pakistan has not been activated. Officials from Turkey and Pakistan told The Associated Press that Saudi Arabia had not requested military support following the latest Houthi escalation. The Turkish official said efforts to "institutionalize" the alliance must be completed before the pact can become operational. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the alleged attempted attack on Mecca, saying Pakistan and Saudi Arabia stand "unwaveringly, shoulder to shoulder." The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which represents more than 57 Muslim countries, also condemned the incident, saying any attempt to target Mecca violates the "sanctity of holy sites." According to Col. Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthis, the incident marked the second attempted Houthi attack on Mecca. The rebels previously fired a ballistic missile toward the city in 2017. US remains outside the conflict for nowTop US officials have indicated in recent days that Washington does not want to become directly involved in the conflict. "The Houthis called us, and they don't want to fight with us," US President Donald Trump said Saturday, adding that the rebels appeared to be focused on Saudi Arabia. Vice President JD Vance said Monday that Washington had remained in "constant contact" with Saudi Arabia and had held "direct conversations with the Houthis themselves." He described the situation as "a very fluid and dynamic thing" that the United States would continue to monitor. Houthis claim to have shot down Saudi-led coalition jetLater Wednesday, the Houthis claimed, without providing evidence, that they had shot down an F-15 fighter jet operated by the Saudi-led coalition over Yemen's central Marib province. Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree did not say when the alleged incident occurred. The Associated Press could not independently verify the claim. Spokespersons for the Saudi-led coalition and the Saudi government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was visiting China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil. Talks were expected to focus on the conflict and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Chinese President Xi Jinping again offered Beijing's assistance in efforts to end the Middle East conflict during the BRICS summit in New Delhi over the weekend.