It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Masjid alHaram in Mecca, IN gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Mecca, IN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting King Abdullah Park in Mecca, IN with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Gurkan ef Steakhouse or visit Safaa and Marwah Saee, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Mecca, IN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Mecca, IN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Mecca, IN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Saudi Arabia has accused the Iran-backed Houthi rebels of attempting to attack Islam’s holiest city, declaring Mecca a “red line” in the escalating conflict.The kingdom’s claim drew condemnation from across the Middle East, but no immediate sign of military support as fears grew of a return to all-out war between the key U.S. ally and the Yemeni rebels.The Houthis swiftly denied targeting Mecca, saying their operations had targeted Saudi oil facilities and military bases, “far removed” from t...
Saudi Arabia has accused the Iran-backed Houthi rebels of attempting to attack Islam’s holiest city, declaring Mecca a “red line” in the escalating conflict.
The kingdom’s claim drew condemnation from across the Middle East, but no immediate sign of military support as fears grew of a return to all-out war between the key U.S. ally and the Yemeni rebels.
The Houthis swiftly denied targeting Mecca, saying their operations had targeted Saudi oil facilities and military bases, “far removed” from the sacred site of the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. They accused Saudi Arabia of spreading “fabrications and lies.”
The Houthis’ rapid ground advance in Yemen and aerial attacks on Saudi Arabia have shut down a crucial oil pipeline, threatened energy supplies through a second major shipping route and left the kingdom struggling to respond.
The mounting hostilities have threatened to open a second front in the Iran war, with oil and gas prices rising. President Donald Trump has so far offered no sign of any U.S. plans to intervene in this new theater.
The United States on Wednesday upgraded its travel advisory to Saudi Arabia to Level 3 amid the escalating conflict, warning Americans to “reconsider travel” to the kingdom and banning government employees from travel near the Yemen border.
Saudi military spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki said Wednesday that the country’s air defense forces had intercepted the drone south of Mecca just before 7 p.m. local time Tuesday (12 p.m. ET), according to a statement.
He emphasized that the security of the holy city and of pilgrims was a “red line,” warning there would be no hesitation to take “necessary and deterrent measures” against the Houthis, the statement said.
Mecca is known as the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, with millions of Muslims from around the world making the pilgrimage to the holy city each year.
“While the Houthis and Saudi Arabia trade barbs over whether the target was Mecca or not,” said Adam Baron, a fellow at New America, a think tank based in Washington, D.C., who follows Yemen and the wider Gulf region, “what is clear is you’re seeing a real demonstration of the Houthis’ continued strategic depth.”
He added: “The fact that they were able to strike this deep in Saudi Arabia is really a signal toward their capacity, if not future intentions.”
The Iran-backed rebels have ramped up attacks on cities across the kingdom after also capturing a key Red Sea port city and island in their bid to gain control of the crucial Bab el Mandeb Strait.
Oil prices have soared over fears that the Houthis could shut down the waterway, which has been a crucial transit route for Saudi Arabian oil exports with the Strait of Hormuz largely closed by Iran since the U.S. and Israel launched their war in late February.
The international benchmark, Brent crude, was at around $108 per barrel early Wednesday. The nationwide average cost of diesel fuel hit another all-time high of $6.31.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the alleged Mecca attack as a “dastardly and heinous” act.
Sharif, who recently reached a joint defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, did not directly mention the Houthis in his statement, but reiterated Pakistan’s general support for the kingdom.
The U.S. conducted a deadly bombing campaign against the Houthis last year, but has shown little appetite for another.
Trump said over the weekend that the Houthis had called his administration and said they “don’t want to fight with us.” Speaking with reporters during a visit to Dublin on Saturday, he said he also spoke with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and maintained that everything would “work out fine and dandy” in the region.
The Houthis and the opposing coalition backing the internationally supported Yemeni government have been fighting a civil war since 2014, with no clear resolution despite a truce agreed years ago.
The United Nations Security Council met Tuesday in an emergency session to discuss the rising violence in Yemen, the region’s poorest country, with member countries urging de-escalation.
The U.N. warned that the ongoing clashes between Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and Houthi rebels have displaced at least 125,000 people since the start of September.
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Chantal Da Silva
Chantal Da Silva reports on world news for NBC News Digital and is based in London.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed.
Saudi Arabia has said that a drone launched by the Houthis towards Mecca has been intercepted and destroyed, in an escalation that could threaten the holy city.The Saudi-led coalition spokesperson, Turki al-Maliki, said Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepted the hostile drone before it entered the restricted airspace on Tuesday evening.Al-Maliki condemned the incident as an attempt to frighten worshippers and harm civilians, warning that the security of the two holy mosques and pilgrims is a “red line”.Th...
Saudi Arabia has said that a drone launched by the Houthis towards Mecca has been intercepted and destroyed, in an escalation that could threaten the holy city.
The Saudi-led coalition spokesperson, Turki al-Maliki, said Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepted the hostile drone before it entered the restricted airspace on Tuesday evening.
Al-Maliki condemned the incident as an attempt to frighten worshippers and harm civilians, warning that the security of the two holy mosques and pilgrims is a “red line”.
The Houthis have previously denied targeting Mecca, saying that they do not target holy sites.
Saudi Arabia issued a security alert on Tuesday in the holy city of Mecca for the first time since the Houthis last attempted to target the sacred area in 2017.
The alert of potential danger in Mecca was swiftly lifted after a few minutes. The same alert was activated for Taif and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city.
In a statement to Yemen’s SABA news agency on Tuesday, a Houthi military source strongly rejected the claim that Houthi forces pose a threat to the city of Mecca or other Islamic holy sites.
“We categorically deny that there is any threat from Yemen directed at the city of Mecca or any other holy sites,” the source said, condemning what he described as “misinformation”.
The latest attacks mark a sharp resurgence in a conflict dating to 2015, when Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen after the Houthis seized Sanaa and ousted the internationally recognised government.
A UN-brokered truce in April 2022 largely halted Houthi attacks on Saudi territory, but hostilities have escalated again since the group declared a blockade on Saudi shipping in July and gained control of critical nodes on the country’s Bab al-Mandeb coastline.
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In early September, the Iran-aligned group launched missiles and drones at sites across Saudi Arabia, marking a drastic escalation in the fighting. Riyadh has accused the Houthi rebels of launching attacks on civilian and economic sites in the kingdom.
The Saudi-led coalition said it will respond “firmly” to Houthi strikes on urban areas that injured 13 people in the Saudi cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif on Tuesday.
This was the first time in nearly a decade that a security alert had been activated in Mecca.
Mecca is home to the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site. Two billion Muslims around the world face the Kaaba during their daily prayers.
This year, Saudi Arabia welcomed around 1.7 million Muslims for the Hajj season in late May, while the country was vulnerable to direct strikes.
Hajj is considered one of the five pillars of Islam, necessary for Muslims to fulfil once in their lifetime.
Throughout the year, millions of pilgrims travel to Mecca to perform the optional Umrah pilgrimage.
Last autumn, Mecca welcomed more than 11.7 million pilgrims for Umrah between September and October 2025.
Hajj has only been restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when Saudi Arabia barred foreign Muslims from performing the pilgrimage to help prevent the spread of the virus.
It remains to be seen if the attacks on Saudi Arabia will affect pilgrimage to Mecca.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Friday that the Strategic Political Defense Committee (SPDC) established under the joint defense pact between Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia will meet “soon” in the Saudi capital Riyadh.Dar said the committee has three members from each country – the foreign ministers, defense ministers and chiefs of General Staff.The three military chiefs met in Riyadh on Sept. 25 for a special meeting, while the foreign ministers met in New York on Sept. 24.“Ver...
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Friday that the Strategic Political Defense Committee (SPDC) established under the joint defense pact between Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia will meet “soon” in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
Dar said the committee has three members from each country – the foreign ministers, defense ministers and chiefs of General Staff.
The three military chiefs met in Riyadh on Sept. 25 for a special meeting, while the foreign ministers met in New York on Sept. 24.
“Very soon, a meeting of the whole SPDC ... has been agreed to in principle, to take place in Riyadh,” Dar said amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Later, according to the daily Dawn, he said that the meeting would take place “next week”.
Recalling his meeting with Iranians in New York last week, Dar said they had suggested in “good faith” that the Houthis should be engaged politically.
Both the Iranian president and foreign minister “wish” for the Houthi-Saudi conflict “to conclude,” Dar said.
He said he “sensitized” the Iranian side about the trilateral pact signed in Mecca in August, adding that “as Muslims we have to honor it.”
Dar stressed, however, that any decision would be taken by all three members of the pact.
The Iranians “disassociate themselves from both Houthis as well as Iraqi militia,” Dar said.
Asked whether the Mecca pact would expand, Dar said: “At least more than six countries are keen to join the Mecca, which is defensive in nature.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement in August.
The agreement stipulates that an attack against any one of the signatory states will be considered an attack against all parties.
Muslim prospective pilgrims climb the Jabal al-Nour (al-Noor mountain) to visit Hira Cave during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on June 01, 2025.Esra Hacioglu | Anadolu | Getty ImagesSaudi Arabia said Wednesday that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone before it could enter the airspace over Mecca, with the Iran-backed Houthi militia group rejecting the claim as "an worn-out lie," as fighting reaches the holy city for the first time in the ongoing conflict.Turki al-Malki,...
Muslim prospective pilgrims climb the Jabal al-Nour (al-Noor mountain) to visit Hira Cave during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on June 01, 2025.
Esra Hacioglu | Anadolu | Getty Images
Saudi Arabia said Wednesday that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone before it could enter the airspace over Mecca, with the Iran-backed Houthi militia group rejecting the claim as "an worn-out lie," as fighting reaches the holy city for the first time in the ongoing conflict.
Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition which has battled the Houthis since 2015, described the attack as "a deliberate act intended to provoke the feelings of millions of Muslims," and said the holy city's security is a "red line."
Mecca is Islam's holiest site and the focal point of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
The Houthis rejected the Saudi statement, with spokesperson Hazem al-Assad saying: "The claims about targeting Mecca are a worn-out lie that has been used before and no longer fools anyone."
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, meanwhile, condemned the strike as a "heinous" attack, denouncing what it described as Houthi attacks on Mecca and the Madinah region alongside the group's "ongoing aggression" against Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia issued a security alert in Mecca on Tuesday, the first since the Houthis last attempted to target the sacred area with a ballistic missile in 2017, after days of intensified attacks that have drawn Saudi Arabia deeper into the Mideast war.
The incident marks the latest escalation in the conflict in Yemen, that is testing a month-old defense pact among Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, and adding a new flashpoint to a Middle East already destabilized by the U.S.-Iran conflict.
A United Nations-brokered truce in April 2022 largely halted Houthi attacks on Saudi territory, but hostilities have escalated again since the group declared a blockade on Saudi shipping in July and gained control of critical nodes on the country's Bab al-Mandeb coastline.
In early September, the Iran-aligned group launched missiles and drones at sites across Saudi Arabia, marking a drastic escalation in the fighting. Riyadh has accused the Houthi rebels of launching attacks on civilian and economic sites in the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has also blamed a pro-Iranian militia based in Iraq for Friday's attack that knocked out the East-West Pipeline, one of the kingdom's most important oil conduits across the Arabian desert, putting 4 million barrels per day at risk and driven a sharp spike in crude prices.
The broadening conflict has further rattled oil markets already on edge over the constrained Gulf shipping routes, from a shuttered Saudi pipeline to swings in Strait of Hormuz traffic.
Oil prices have climbed alongside the escalation, even as Hormuz flows have been climbing back.
While oil was trading lower Wednesday, Brent crude and U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures hovered near four-month highs of $107.8 per barrel and $104.6 a barrel, respectively.
The seven-day average of oil transit through the Hormuz Strait rose to nearly 12 million barrels per day as of Sunday — "easily the fastest pace since the post-MOU June-July breakout," according to oil market analyst and founder of research house Commodity Context, Rory Johnston.
"This time there's virtually no Iranian crude," he said. Still, that volume remains less than 60% of pre-war levels, Johnston added, underscoring the room shipping through the strait has left to recover as the Yemen fighting and the pipeline outage add fresh risk onto an already-strained supply picture.
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Saudi Arabia has reported three Houthi attempts to target the holy cities of Mecca and Medina over the past nine years, including two incidents in September, drawing condemnation from Arab and Muslim countries.The Yemeni group has denied some of the accusations.According to an Anadolu review of official Saudi statements, the latest alleged attacks targeted Medina and an area south of Mecca, while the first reported attempt occurred in July 2017.Mecca and Medina are home to Islam’s holiest sites, the Grand ...
Saudi Arabia has reported three Houthi attempts to target the holy cities of Mecca and Medina over the past nine years, including two incidents in September, drawing condemnation from Arab and Muslim countries.
The Yemeni group has denied some of the accusations.
According to an Anadolu review of official Saudi statements, the latest alleged attacks targeted Medina and an area south of Mecca, while the first reported attempt occurred in July 2017.
Mecca and Medina are home to Islam’s holiest sites, the Grand Mosque and the Kaaba in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.
Saudi Arabia has led a coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government against the Houthis since March 2015. The Yemeni group has controlled the capital Sanaa and several provinces since September 2014.
Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia intensified in September after the group announced what it called a “maritime blockade” on the kingdom in July and later claimed ballistic missile and drone attacks on Saudi sites and vessels.
Two incidents in September 2026
On Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition said a drone attack it attributed to the Houthis had targeted a power station in Medina.
Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al Maliki said the attack occurred early on Tuesday and knocked a transformer out of service without affecting the electricity grid.
Maliki accused the Houthis of targeting civilian infrastructure providing electricity services to the Prophet’s Mosque, describing the incident as an “extension of this extremist militia’s approach in attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques.”
“Investigation findings, operational data and examination of debris from the drone used in the attack proved the Houthi militia’s involvement in planning and carrying out this act,” he said.
The coalition would continue taking measures to deter the Houthis and protect the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims in Mecca and Medina, he added.
On September 16, Maliki said Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the city’s restricted airspace.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said at the time that it was the second alleged Houthi attempt to target Mecca after an earlier incident in July 2017.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz condemned the Houthis’ attempt to again target Mecca, saying the incident had drawn international condemnation because violating the sanctity of holy sites provoked the feelings of Muslims around the world.
Abdul Mohsen al Qasim, an imam at the Prophet’s Mosque, also said during a Friday sermon that attacking Mecca and Medina was “a grave offence before God.”
2017 allegation
On July 27 2017, the Saudi-led coalition announced that it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis towards Mecca over Taif province, around 69 kilometres from the holy city, without causing damage.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry accused the Houthis at the time of violating the sanctity of Mecca in “a desperate attempt to disrupt the Hajj season.”
The Houthis did not immediately deny the latest accusation involving Medina.
The group, however, swiftly rejected the Saudi accusation concerning the September 16 incident near Mecca.
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al Houthi and Hizam al Assad, a member of the group’s political bureau, denied the allegation.
The Houthis also rejected the July 2017 accusation, saying their missile forces had targeted only the Taif military base and had not targeted Mecca.
Saudi announcements concerning the alleged attempts to target Mecca in July 2017 and September 2026 prompted condemnation from a number of Arab and Muslim countries and organisations.
The statements condemning the Houthis were issued by Türkiye, Qatar, Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates and Somalia.
The Gulf Cooperation Council, Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation also issued condemnations, with several statements warning that attacks involving Mecca would offend Muslims around the world.
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