Washington: The United States embassy has advised Americans to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia amid heightened security concerns and reported Houthi attacks in the region.

The advisory warns of the risk of Iranian drone and missile attacks targeting US interests, armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans and local laws concerning social media activity.

The embassy also issued a "Do Not Travel" warning for areas near the Saudi-Yemen border because of the threat of terrorism.

The advisory came as Saudi Arabia reported intercepting a Houthi drone heading towards Mecca, the holiest city in Islam.

The Saudi-led military coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said on Wednesday, September 16, that Saudi air defence forces destroyed the drone before it entered protected airspace around the holy city.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said in a statement on X that the drone had been launched by the Houthi militia and was intercepted before entering the prohibited airspace around Makkah Al-Mukarramah.

The reported interception also prompted users on social media to share visuals said to be linked to the incident. However, the authenticity and origin of the visuals could not be independently verified.

Houthis deny targeting Mecca

The Houthis rejected Saudi Arabia's claim that the drone was heading towards Mecca.

Hazem al-Assad, a member of the Houthi group's politburo, dismissed the allegation in a post on X, calling claims that the group had targeted Mecca a "worn-out lie".

(AFP)