Saudi coalition downs Yemen rebel missile near Mecca

A ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels toward the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia was shot down late on Thursday, said the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen.Air defense forces downed the missile over the Wasaliyah area of Taif province, 69 km from Mecca, without causing any damage, the coalition said in a statement carried by Saudi state news agency SPA.The statement called the missile launch "a desperate attempt to spoil the haj pilgrimage," due to begin next month.