India on Friday, 18 September 2026, reiterated its 'deep concern' over the worsening security situation in the Red Sea region and strongly condemned the attempted drone attack on Mecca, Saudi Arabia's holiest city, warning that such incidents threaten both regional stability and the critical freedom of navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The statement was made by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal at a bi-weekly press briefing in New Delhi.

India's Condemnation: What the MEA Said

Jaiswal described the attacks as 'unacceptable', calling for an immediate return to peace and stability. 'We are deeply concerned about the escalation in the security situation in the Red Sea area. We have expressed our condemnation of the attacks on Saudi sovereign territory, including on civilians and economic assets,' he said.

On the Mecca drone incident specifically, Jaiswal said the episode was 'particularly concerning, given the special significance of the city to Muslims across the world.' India's statement stressed that such attacks 'vitiate the regional security situation' and 'undermine regional peace and security.'

The Drone Attack on Mecca: What Happened

According to reports, Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone launched by Yemen's Houthi group before it entered the prohibited airspace of Mecca on Tuesday. The attempted strike drew swift international condemnation given the city's immense religious significance to 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide.

This incident is the latest in an escalating pattern of Houthi attacks on Saudi territory, targeting civilian infrastructure and economic assets. The Bab el-Mandeb strait — a narrow chokepoint between Yemen and Djibouti — remains one of the world's most vital shipping lanes, carrying a significant share of global energy trade.

Jaishankar-Saudi FM Meeting at BRICS

The MEA's Friday statement follows an earlier briefing on Tuesday, when Jaiswal disclosed that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had met with the Saudi Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. The two ministers discussed regional and international developments, including the Houthi threat and its impact on the Red Sea security environment.

'Such attacks undermine regional stability and threaten freedom of navigation through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. These actions are obviously unacceptable to us,' Jaiswal had said on Tuesday, also acknowledging India's energy dependence on the Gulf region: 'We continue to receive energy supplies from that part of the world.'

Why This Matters for India

India has a direct strategic and economic stake in the Red Sea's stability. A significant portion of India's crude oil imports transits through the Bab el-Mandeb, and disruptions to this corridor have direct consequences for domestic fuel prices and energy security. Indian-flagged vessels and shipping companies have also faced threats in the region in recent months.

Notably, this is among the most direct and forceful positions New Delhi has taken on the Houthi conflict, signalling a shift from careful diplomatic hedging to explicit condemnation — a posture consistent with India's growing strategic alignment with Gulf partners and its G20-era push to secure global trade routes.

What Comes Next

With the Houthi threat showing no signs of abating and Saudi Arabia continuing to face attacks on its sovereign territory, regional observers expect further diplomatic consultations. India's back-to-back statements — and the Jaishankar-Saudi FM bilateral — suggest New Delhi is actively working through diplomatic channels to press for de-escalation. Whether the Houthis respond to international pressure or intensify their campaign will determine the next phase of the crisis.