Malaysian Prime Minister decries drone threat near Islam's holiest city
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim condemned a reported drone incident near Makkah and called for restraint, praising Saudi security actions.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim denounced recent reports of a drone being intercepted near Makkah, stating that any attempt to jeopardise the safety of Islam's most sacred site is intolerable. He commended Saudi Arabia for swiftly securing the area and safeguarding both locals and pilgrims. The Malaysian prime minister appealed for immediate restraint and dialogue to prevent further escalation in the region.
Saudi civil defence had activated emergency alerts for Jeddah, Makkah and Taif, warning residents to seek shelter as tensions with the Houthi group intensified. The alerts were disseminated via one outlet Early Warning Platform for Emergencies. Malaysian Consul-General Tengku Mohd Dzaraif Raja Abdul Kadir confirmed that Malaysians in the Hijaz were unharmed after receiving official safety instructions. The incident underscores the broader volatility of the Saudi-Yemen border conflict.
Why it matters
The drone threat highlights regional security risks around Islam's holiest sites and the need for diplomatic restraint.
How this story developed
- Aug 28 Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey launch Mecca Defence Alliance, secretariat set in Riyadh
- Sep 3 Greece delivered a diplomatic note to Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, instructed by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, contesting Turkish objections to Greek spatial planning frameworks and the creation of two national maritime parks. Athens maintains that international treaties define Aegean sovereignty and that Turkey’s own maritime park declarations overstep its jurisdiction. Both sides exchanged notes reiterating their positions, while Greece pledged to raise any unilateral Turkish actions with European partners. Despite tensions, intelligence chiefs met to keep security cooperation alive, and leaders plan to attend the UN General Assembly.
- Sep 6 Turkey reiterated its long‑standing claims over continental shelves.
- Sep 13 Pakistan reiterated that no immediate military response under the Makkah pact is being discussed.
- Sep 13 The Greek prime minister publicly called for dialogue with Turkey while maintaining a formal protest over Turkey’s maritime park claims.
In this story
Related stories
22 in this thread