RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned the terrorist Houthi militia’s launch of a hostile drone toward the Holy City of Makkah on Tuesday.
Saudi Foreign Ministry, in a statement, affirmed that this cowardly terrorist attack targeting the Sacred City, the land of the Divine Message, the place where Revelation descended, and the Qiblah of Muslims, constitutes a repetition of the terrorist Houthi militia’s practices of targeting and violating the sanctity of the Holy Sites and a provocation to the sentiments of Muslims around the world.
It added that the attempt marked the second effort to target the Holy City of Makkah, following the group’s first such attempt on July 27, 2017.
“The Kingdom commends the vigilance of the Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces, which responded to this attack and successfully intercepted and destroyed the drone before it entered the restricted airspace of the Holy City of Makkah,” the statement said.
#Statement | The Foreign Ministry expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist Houthi militia’s launch of a hostile drone toward the Holy City of Makkah on Tuesday, 4 Rabi’ al-Akhir 1448 AH, corresponding to 15 September 2026. pic.twitter.com/OuqRVdttgW
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) September 16, 2026
Saudi Arabia renewed its call for the international community to condemn these grave attacks and take a firm stance against the terrorist Houthi militia’s targeting of Holy Sites, as well as civilian and economic facilities in the Kingdom. It also urged action against the threats posed by the militia to maritime navigation, commercial shipping, and international trade.
Saudi Arabia vows to defend security of Two Holy Mosques
It reiterated its legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend the security of the Two Holy Mosques and the pilgrims and visitors they receive, as well as Saudi Arabia’s entire territory, citizens, and residents.
Houthi drone destroyed before entering Makkah’s airspace
Earlier, Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki, in a statement, said the Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone on Tuesday evening launched by the terrorist Houthi militia before it entered the prohibited airspace area of the Holy City of Makkah. The hostile drone was intercepted in southern Makkah.
— المتحدث الرسمي باسم قوات التحالف (@CJFCSpox) September 16, 2026
“This hostile and terrorist act is the second attempt to target Makkah, following the first attempt with a ballistic missile on July 27, 2017,” he said.
He described the act as an attempt to target the birthplace of revelation, the land of the message, and the destination that draws the hearts of millions of Muslims from around the world.
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“It was also an attempt to terrorise the Umrah performers visiting the Grand Mosque in peace and to harm citizens and residents,” according to the statement.
This hostile attempt will remain a mark of shame on the record of violations committed by the extremist terrorist Houthi militia, as it was a deliberate act intended to provoke the feelings of millions of Muslims, he noted.
