The coalition called the security of the Two Holy Mosques a "red line" and vowed retaliation, while the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the "heinous" attack. The dispute deepens a resurgent conflict. Fresh fighting between the Iran-backed Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has drawn Riyadh in directly. The Houthis declared a maritime blockade on the kingdom after seizing Yemen's entire Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait in a lightning offensive last week. That strait is a vital artery for Saudi oil exports, especially as disruption chokes the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia had issued alerts over possible attacks in Makkah and southern regions, following missile and drone strikes that wounded thirteen people. Fighting flared in July when the Houthis launched a large offensive; 82,000 people have fled since September, per the UN. Saudi Arabia and Egypt urged freedom of navigation through Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab. Qatar warned that closing the strait would be "catastrophic for the entire world”. Red Sea disruption threatens Egypt's Suez Canal revenue, already halved since the Houthis began targeting shipping in 2023. Reports say Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally asked President Trump for US intervention but was refused; a US task force is nonetheless aiding Saudi forces with intelligence and planning. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said Saudi Arabia launched 52 airstrikes on Yemen in 24 hours, hitting civilian sites. Despite this, Riyadh's strikes have failed to reverse the group's gains, and Houthi attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure have pushed global prices above $100 a barrel. (Bssnews)