Indonesia Alerts Citizens in Saudi Arabia amid Houthi Tension - Tempo.co English

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia urges its nationals in Saudi Arabia to strengthen vigilance amid local security risks following a suspected attack by Yemen's Houthi group.

Heni Hamidah, Director of Indonesian Citizen Protection at the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabian authorities have issued several warnings of potential security risks in several regions, including Mecca, Jeddah, and Taif.

"The Indonesian envoys in Saudi Arabia urge Indonesian citizens to remain vigilant and comply with the instructions of Saudi Arabian officials," Hamidah said.

On Tuesday, September 15, Saudi Arabian authorities issued a warning to local residents to remain indoors, avoid open areas and crowds, and follow official instructions.

The Saudi Arabian Civil Defense later declared the danger had passed, and the public was allowed to return to normal activities while still heeding local government guidance.

Hamidah confirmed that no Indonesian nationals were affected by the danger, but assured the Indonesian representatives in Saudi Arabia continue to monitor the situation and work closely with local authorities. 

In case of emergency, Indonesian citizens in Saudi Arabia are directed to contact the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh via the hotline +966 569173990 or the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah via the hotline +966 50 360 9667.

Meanwhile, the official spokesperson for the Coalition for the Restoration of Legitimacy in Yemen, Major General Turki Al-Malki, said that Saudi Arabian air defense forces successfully intercepted and destroyed a drone that was attempting to enter airspace over the city of Mecca.

"On Tuesday evening, September 15, 2026, at 6:50 p.m. local time, the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces intercepted and destroyed an enemy drone launched by the terrorist Houthi militia, before it entered prohibited airspace over the holy city of Mecca," the spokesperson said, according to a report by Saudi Arabian news agency SPA.

The drone was intercepted south of Mecca. This hostile act was the second attempt to target Mecca, following the first attempt using a ballistic missile on July 27, 2017.

Later, the Houthis stated that it posed no threat to the holy city of Mecca or other Islamic holy sites in Saudi Arabia.

"We categorically deny any threat from Yemen against the holy city of Mecca or other holy sites," a military source was quoted as saying by the Houthi-run Saba news agency on Tuesday.