September 18, 2026 | 02:45 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Yemeni Houthi leadership strongly rejected accusations from the Saudi Arabia-led coalition that the rebel group launched a drone attack toward the holy city of Mecca. As reported by Middle East Monitor, they called the allegations "fabrications and lies" designed to rally support against Yemen.
The exchange follows claims by the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces that they intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Mecca before it entered the city's restricted airspace. Coalition spokesperson Brig. Gen. Turki al-Malki warned that the security of Islam's holiest sites remains a "red line," vowing that the Joint Forces Command "will not hesitate to take the necessary and deterrent measures," according to statements cited by Xinhua.
However, Houthi officials swiftly dismissed the account. Mohammed Al-Farah, a member of the Houthis' political office, told the Houthi-run Saba news agency that the claim was "an outright lie with no basis in truth."
"We are more concerned about Mecca and the holy sites than those who exploit them politically," Al-Farah said, arguing that Riyadh was using the allegation to divert international attention from its military difficulties in Yemen.
In a televised address on Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, Houthi supreme leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi similarly labeled the Saudi claims a "fabrication and misinformation." Al-Houthi called on supporters across Yemen to hold mass demonstrations to reject the accusations, while criticizing Saudi Arabia for failing to advance a political settlement during recent diplomatic windows.
Meanwhile, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that the group's operations strictly focus on military installations and energy infrastructure, which he described as "far removed from the sacred sites," Euronews reported. Saree added on social media that Houthi forces had successfully shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet using a locally produced air-to-air missile while the aircraft was carrying out operations over Yemen.
Regional Repercussions and International Reaction
The allegations drew immediate condemnation from regional powers and international organizations. According to reports from Euronews, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the alleged attempt "in the strongest possible terms," describing it on social media platform X as an "outrageous act." The 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) likewise issued a statement condemning the reported strike.
The diplomatic spat occurs against the backdrop of a major military escalation in the region. Since September, Houthi forces, formally known as Ansar Allah, have expanded their control along Yemen's Red Sea coast and the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. According to United Nations estimates, renewed fighting has displaced more than 82,000 people since early September.
Control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has raised global economic concerns. The waterway serves as a vital shipping corridor connecting the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, making it a critical choke point for international crude oil shipments.
Qatari authorities warned that any disruption or closure of the strait would be "catastrophic for the entire world," while Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman issued a joint statement emphasizing the necessity of preserving freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
The ongoing clashes and Houthi strikes against regional oil facilities have already contributed to volatility in energy markets, pushing global crude prices above US$100 a barrel.
Read: Iran: Hormuz Strait Won't Reopen Until Trump, Netanyahu Are Removed
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