NEW DELHI — India has summoned Pakistan’s top diplomat in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest following a collision between an Indian Navy vessel and a Pakistani naval ship in international waters of the Arabian Sea.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the incident occurred on Tuesday, September 15, and described the conduct of the Pakistani naval units involved as “unacceptable and unprofessional.” The ministry said the collision did not cause any major damage.

According to Indian officials, the Pakistani naval vessel approached an Indian Navy warship operating on a routine surveillance mission in the northern Arabian Sea. Indian sources said the Pakistani vessel approached at high speed and manoeuvred in an unsafe manner before the collision.

India said the incident took place in international waters and raised concerns over compliance with a 1991 bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan. The agreement includes provisions intended to promote safety and prevent incidents involving military vessels.

The Pakistani Charge d’Affaires was asked to convey to Islamabad the need for military units to exercise due care at sea and respect bilateral agreements to prevent similar incidents in the future. India also instructed its Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad to lodge a corresponding protest with Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.

There was no immediate public response from the Pakistani government to India’s protest, according to the latest reports. The incident comes against the backdrop of already strained relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

RIYADH — Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement south of the holy city of Makkah before it could enter the city’s restricted airspace, the Saudi-led coalition said Wednesday.

Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki said the drone was intercepted at around 6:50 p.m. local time Tuesday, with its wreckage falling south of Makkah. Saudi authorities had also issued security alerts in Makkah and other areas of the kingdom amid concerns over possible attacks.

Al-Malki described the incident as the Houthis’ second reported attempt to target Makkah, referring to a ballistic missile launched toward the holy city in July 2017. He warned that the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims is a “red line” and said the coalition would take measures to deter further attacks.

The incident comes amid a broader escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, with Saudi warplanes carrying out strikes in Yemen and the Houthis launching drones and missiles toward Saudi territory, according to Reuters.

The Houthis, however, denied targeting Makkah or any Islamic holy site, rejecting the Saudi allegation. Reuters also reported that the group claimed responsibility for other attacks on Saudi territory while denying that Makkah was the target.

Makkah is Islam’s holiest city and the site of the Grand Mosque and the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The reported interception therefore comes with heightened sensitivity as the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis expands into a wider regional confrontation.

DUBAI: Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Sunday claimed they had launched a ballistic missile and drone attack on a Saudi military base as fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces intensified.

The Houthis said the attack targeted a military base in Saudi Arabia’s Sharurah area, according to reports. They described the operation as a response to Saudi airstrikes on Houthi-held areas of Yemen and warned of further attacks if the strikes continue.

The latest escalation comes as Houthi forces have made significant advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including moves around the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Saudi Arabia has carried out airstrikes in an effort to halt the Houthi advance, while Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have launched counteroffensive operations.

The renewed fighting has raised concerns over regional stability and the security of the Bab al-Mandeb, a vital maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The escalation is also contributing to wider concerns over global energy supplies and shipping routes.

The Houthis’ claim of the Saudi base attack has not been independently verified, and Saudi authorities have not immediately confirmed the full extent of the reported damage or casualties. Reports, however, indicate that the conflict is entering a more dangerous phase as fighting intensifies across Yemen.