Sanaa, Sept 2026 : Yemen's Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi has rejected Saudi Arabia's accusation that his group attempted to target the Islamic holy city of Mecca, calling the allegation a “fabrication and misinformation” amid renewed hostilities between the two sides.
In a televised address broadcast by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV on Thursday, al-Houthi described the claim that Houthi forces had targeted Mecca as a “lie”. He alleged that the accusation was being used to build broader support for what he termed “military measures imposed on Yemen”.
The Houthi leader also accused Saudi Arabia of failing to make progress towards a political settlement during a period of relative calm before the latest escalation. According to al-Houthi, restrictions on areas controlled by the Houthis had instead been tightened.
He specifically referred to unresolved restrictions affecting airport operations and the movement of imports, which he said remained among the key issues in the conflict.
Al-Houthi called on his supporters across Yemen to stage mass demonstrations on Friday against what he described as Saudi “fabrications and slander”.
His remarks came a day after Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of launching a drone towards Mecca. According to the Saudi-led coalition, the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces intercepted and destroyed the drone south of Mecca on Tuesday evening before it could enter the holy city's restricted airspace.
Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki said the protection of Islam's two holiest sites and pilgrims was a “red line”. He added that the coalition would take necessary measures in response to threats against the sites.
Al-Malki further claimed that the incident represented the second alleged Houthi attempt to target Mecca. He referred to a ballistic missile incident in July 2017, which the coalition had previously attributed to the Houthis.
The latest exchange of accusations comes amid a broader escalation in Yemen's prolonged conflict. The Houthis have reportedly made gains along parts of Yemen's Red Sea coast and around the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait since September 3, while also increasing missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi military and oil facilities, according to reports.
The Houthis, meanwhile, have accused Saudi Arabia of intensifying airstrikes across Yemen.
The conflict began in late 2014 after Houthi forces seized Sanaa and large parts of northern Yemen. Saudi Arabia subsequently led a coalition that intervened in Yemen in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognised Yemeni government.
Despite periods of relative calm and diplomatic efforts, the conflict has remained unresolved, with the latest escalation further straining relations between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
