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Saudi Arabia has reported three alleged Houthi attempts to target the holy cities of Mecca and Medina over the past nine years, according to a review of official Saudi statements by Anadolu. The claims include two incidents in September 2026 and one in July 2017.
The Houthis have denied some of the accusations. Iran has also dismissed one Saudi allegation as unsubstantiated.
Mecca is home to the Grand Mosque and the Kaaba, while Medina is home to the Prophet’s Mosque. Saudi Arabia has led a coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government against the Houthis since March 2015. The group has controlled the capital, Sanaa, and several provinces since September 2014.
Two alleged incidents in September
On Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition said a drone attack it blamed on the Houthis had targeted a power station in Medina. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said the incident took place early Tuesday and put a transformer out of service, but did not affect the electricity grid.
Al-Maliki accused the Houthis of targeting civilian infrastructure supplying electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque. He said an investigation, operational data and examination of the drone debris showed the group was involved in planning and carrying out the attack.
The coalition would continue taking steps to deter the Houthis and protect the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims in Mecca and Medina, he said.
On Sept. 16, al-Maliki said Saudi air defences had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the city’s restricted airspace. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry described it as the second alleged Houthi attempt to target Mecca, following the 2017 incident.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz condemned the alleged attempt, saying violations of holy sites offended Muslims around the world. Abdul Mohsen al-Qasim, an imam at the Prophet’s Mosque, called attacks on Mecca and Medina “a grave offense before God” during a Friday sermon.
What happened in 2017?
On July 27, 2017, the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis towards Mecca over Taif province, about 69 kilometres from the holy city. No damage was reported.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry accused the Houthis of violating Mecca’s sanctity in what it called “a desperate attempt to disrupt the Hajj season.” The group rejected the allegation, saying its missile forces had targeted a military base in Taif, not Mecca.
Denials and international reactions
The Houthis swiftly rejected Saudi Arabia’s accusation over the Sept. 16 incident near Mecca. The group’s leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, and political bureau member Hizam al-Assad denied the allegation. The group did not immediately respond to the latest accusation concerning Medina.
In September, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on “X” that any attack targeting Mecca should be condemned. He described reports of a drone being intercepted over the city as “merely a claim” that could not justify accusing any party.
Saudi announcements about the alleged attempts to target Mecca in July 2017 and September 2026 prompted condemnations from Türkiye, Qatar, Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates and Somalia, Anadolu reported.
The Gulf Cooperation Council, Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation also condemned the alleged incidents. Several statements warned that attacks involving Mecca would offend Muslims worldwide.
