A video circulating on social media has sparked widespread discussion after users claimed that it showed Saudi Arabia’s air defence system destroying a Houthi drone near Makkah Mukarramah.
However, a fact check has revealed that the viral footage is not related to any recent drone attack attempt on Makkah. The video was previously shared online in 2025 and has now been reused with a misleading claim.
Several social media posts claimed that the footage showed a Houthi drone entering the restricted airspace of Makkah and being intercepted by Saudi defence forces.
The posts spread rapidly on platforms including X and Instagram, with some users describing it as an attempted attack on the holy city.
A detailed verification process found that the video does not provide evidence of a recent incident in Makkah.
Fact-checkers used keyword searches and reverse image search methods to trace the original source of the footage.
The investigation found that the same video had already appeared on different social media platforms in September 2025.
At that time, the footage was shared with claims related to an aerial incident near Madinah Munawwarah, including reports of a loud explosion and a missile-like object visible in the sky near Masjid an-Nabawi ﷺ.
However, Saudi authorities had not officially confirmed the claims attached to that earlier footage.
The video was also shared by different unofficial media accounts in 2025 with various descriptions.
One social media post claimed that Saudi Arabia had intercepted a missile-like object near Masjid an-Nabawi ﷺ, but no official statement was provided to verify that claim.
Another platform, Inside the Haramain, shared the footage while referring to reports of an unauthorized drone being intercepted near Madinah. However, the information was based on unofficial sources.
The recent spread of the video appears to be linked to a separate incident reported by Saudi authorities on September 15.
Saudi officials had confirmed that a Houthi drone was intercepted before entering the restricted airspace south of Makkah Mukarramah.
The spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, said that the drone was destroyed before reaching the prohibited area.
Saudi authorities highlighted that the security of Makkah Mukarramah and the holy sites remains a highly sensitive matter.
Meanwhile, the Houthis denied targeting Makkah Mukarramah or any religious site.
The fact check showed that although a drone interception incident was reported, the viral video being circulated online does not represent that event.
Experts often warn social media users to verify videos before sharing them, especially when they involve sensitive religious, security, or political topics.
Old videos are frequently reused during major events with new captions to create misleading impressions.
Reverse image searches, original upload dates, and official statements can help identify whether online claims are accurate.
The viral Makkah drone video is therefore misleading because the footage belongs to an earlier online circulation and cannot be confirmed as showing a recent Houthi drone interception near Makkah Mukarramah.
