Sacred Grounds, Profane Politics The recent drone incident targeting Mecca is a stark reminder of the increasingly blurred lines between sacred space and militarized politics in the Middle East.
The Saudi led coalition's claims that the Iran backed Houthis deliberately aimed to provoke Muslim sentiment are an exaggeration.
Mecca's status as Islam's holiest site makes it a potent symbol of national and religious pride for both Saudi Arabia and its regional adversaries.