Saudi Arabia says Houthis tried to target Mecca and Medina three times in nine years
A report cited by Saudi authorities says the latest attempts occurred twice in September 2026, following an earlier alleged attack in 2017.
Written by EGazette’s AI. The facts are drawn from cited sources; the analysis is the AI’s own.
Saudi Arabia has said that Yemen's Houthi movement attempted to target the holy cities of Mecca and Medina three times over a nine-year period, according to a report on the claims.
The two most recent incidents are said to have occurred in September 2026, in addition to an earlier alleged attempt dating back to 2017. The report does not detail the exact method used in each incident or the extent of any resulting damage.
The Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen, have repeatedly launched missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia during the course of the conflict in Yemen, though strikes aimed specifically at Mecca and Medina would mark a particularly sensitive escalation given the cities' religious significance to Muslims worldwide.
There was no immediate, independently verified comment from the Houthi movement on the specific claims regarding these three incidents at the time of publication.
Sources
- Saudi Arabia says Houthis attempted to target Mecca, Medina 3 times over 9 years: Report — Anadolu Agency (Turkey)
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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