Saudi Arabia accused Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels of attempting to attack Mecca and said it intercepted and destroyed a drone before it entered the city’s airspace. The Houthis denied launching drones toward Mecca, while Saudi Arabia sought regional backing as attacks threatened Red Sea shipping, oil infrastructure and routes through the Strait of Hormuz. The East-West Pipeline was expected to remain largely shut for weeks after an attack reportedly carried out by Iran-allied militias in Iraq, potentially removing several million barrels of oil a day from the market. Oil prices remained above $100 a barrel, while Hormuz flows recovered somewhat to an estimated 5 million to 7 million barrels per day, less than half their prewar level. Turkey and Pakistan said Riyadh had not requested military assistance under their new defense pact, and the United States provided intelligence-sharing and planning support without committing to direct intervention.