Conflict & Security
Saudi King Salman condemns Houthis over Mecca attack claim
Saudi King Salman condemned Yemen's Houthis as a "terrorist militia" on Tuesday after Saudi authorities said the group tried to target Mecca last week, a claim the Houthis have denied.
The 90-year-old monarch praised Saudi armed forces and security services for defending the country. The official Saudi news agency said he condemned the recent Houthi attempt "to target Mecca" and called it "a provocation to Muslims around the world."
Saudi Arabia earlier said it had shot down a drone heading towards Islam's holiest city. The Saudi foreign ministry condemned what it called a "cowardly terrorist attack" and said the kingdom had the right to defend the Two Holy Mosques, pilgrims and Saudi territory.
The Houthis denied the Mecca accusation. Houthi politburo member Hazem al-Assad called it "a worn-out lie," while Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group's operations targeted Saudi oil facilities and military bases, not sacred sites.
The European Union also condemned recent strikes on Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed Houthi fighters, including what Riyadh says was an attack targeting Mecca. EU foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni urged the Houthis to "cease all military action" and said the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure was unacceptable.
Fighting in Yemen has intensified since July. The United Nations has said the conflict has forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes.
Update
King Salman condemned Yemen's Houthis as a "terrorist militia" in a rare statement.
King Salman praised Saudi armed forces and security services for defending the country.
The official Saudi news agency said King Salman called the alleged attempt to target Mecca "a provocation to Muslims around the world".
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 September 2026 at 13:27:30 UTC.
Update
The European Union voiced "full solidarity" with Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
EU foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni urged the Houthis to stop military action and said targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure was unacceptable.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 September 2026 at 16:20:15 UTC.
Update
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said Saudi warplanes carried out 40 airstrikes on Taiz, Marib and Hodeidah over 24 hours.
The Houthis previously said Saudi Arabia had launched more than 450 strikes over the past week.
The United Nations said Yemen's conflict has forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes.
Two military sources said Yemeni government forces were fighting Houthis for control of Al-Labanat camp near the Saudi border.
A Mecca resident told AFP that life was normal in the city after phone alerts warning of an attack.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 September 2026 at 19:06:25 UTC.
Update
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned what it called attacks against Mecca and the Madinah region.
Qatar warned that closure of Bab al-Mandab would be catastrophic for the world.
A US official told AFP that a US military task force is working to enhance intelligence-sharing and planning assistance for Saudi forces.
US media reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman requested US intervention from President Donald Trump and was turned down.
The Houthis claimed on Wednesday that they had shot down a Saudi fighter jet.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 September 2026 at 09:01:44 UTC.
Update
The Saudi-led coalition warned that the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a "red line" and vowed deterrent measures.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned what it called a "heinous" attack.
Saudi Arabia had issued alerts on Tuesday over possible attacks in Mecca and parts of southern Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt called for freedom and security of navigation through the Red Sea-related waterways after Houthi gains on Yemen's coast.
The United Nations said the renewed Yemen conflict had forced 82,000 people from their homes since the start of September.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 September 2026 at 03:09:02 UTC.
Update
A Houthi official denied Saudi Arabia's claim of an attack on Mecca, calling it a lie.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 September 2026 at 00:52:44 UTC.
Update
Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki posted the statement on X.
The coalition said the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces intercepted and destroyed the drone before it entered the prohibited airspace area of Mecca.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 September 2026 at 00:40:12 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The alleged attempt to target Mecca is disputed by the Houthis.
The supplied material does not independently verify the Saudi or Houthi accounts of the incident.
Source
AFP news report published on .