Saudi Arabia's air defense system has shot down a drone launched by Yemen's armed Houthi movement near the holy city of Mecca.

The Saudi-led coalition stated that the drone was destroyed on Tuesday (September 15) before it could enter restricted airspace.

The coalition also claimed that this was the second attempted Houthi attack targeting Mecca.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Saudi-led coalition announced the Houthi drone attack attempt targeting Mecca early Wednesday (September 16).

Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said that the drone was detected and destroyed by the Saudi air defense system at around 6:50 PM local time on Tuesday.

The drone was shot down before entering prohibited airspace, and its debris later fell south of Mecca.

Al-Maliki stated that this was the second attempted Houthi attack targeting Mecca. He noted that previously, on July 27, 2017, a ballistic missile was fired toward Mecca.

He emphasized that the security of the Two Holy Mosques and the pilgrims visiting them is a "red line."

He also warned that the coalition will take necessary measures to prevent such attacks in the future.

A day earlier, the Saudi-led coalition reported that Houthi missile and drone attacks had injured 13 civilians in Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif.

Seven houses and two vehicles were also damaged in the attacks.

After years of relative calm, the conflict between forces of Yemen's internationally recognized government and the Houthis has escalated once again since early July.

The war in Yemen has been ongoing since 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital Sana'a and several provinces of the country.

In 2015, the Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in Yemen to support the internationally recognized government.