Sanna/ Riyadh: Yemen’s Houthi movement has rejected Saudi claims that it attacked Mecca and Medina, calling the allegation a “great and grievous falsehood” after Saudi officials said debris from two intercepted missiles fell in the regions that are home to Islam’s two holiest cities, agencies reported.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the claim was meant to mislead people about the group’s attacks. He said the Houthis were targeting Saudi oil facilities and military bases, not holy sites.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces confirm that what the Saudi enemy is promoting regarding our forces targeting the sacred areas in Mecca al-Mukarramah and Medina al-Munawwarah is a great and grievous falsehood,” Saree said in a post on X.
He added that “these lies and claims no longer deceive anyone”, and repeated that the group’s operations had targeted oil installations and military facilities.
Saudi Civil Defence had earlier said debris from two ballistic missiles fell in the Mecca and Medina regions after they were intercepted. The Saudi-led coalition said the missiles were fired towards Yanbu and Taif, while debris was also reported in Jeddah, Taif and Rabigh.
The sharply conflicting statements came as fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi group intensified, with the Houthis claiming attacks on Saudi oil sites, airports and military facilities.
Saudi Reports Debris
Saudi Civil Defence said its teams responded after fragments from two intercepted ballistic missiles fell in the Mecca and Medina regions. Some debris reportedly landed near Mecca, while other pieces fell in Jeddah, Taif and Rabigh.
The Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed two ballistic missiles that were heading towards Yanbu and Taif in western Saudi Arabia.
Civil Defence also sent short alerts warning people in Mecca, Jeddah, Taif and Yanbu of possible danger. The warnings were removed after officials said the threat was over.
Houthis List Targets
In another statement, Saree said Houthi forces had attacked several Saudi sites, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an Aramco facility in Yanbu, the Rabigh oil refinery, crude-oil pumping stations and the East-West Pipeline.
He also said the group targeted King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, an airport in Najran and an airbase in Khamis Mushait. Saudi officials did not say whether these places were hit.
The Houthis also warned international, regional and local airlines not to use King Khalid International Airport, calling the Riyadh airport a military target and saying it would remain unsafe.
Conflict Intensifies
The latest violence comes after a truce that had largely stopped cross-border attacks between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised Yemeni government since 2022 broke down.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s recognised government accused the Houthis of firing three ballistic missiles at coast guard facilities in the southern port city of Aden, as reported by Reuters. It said two missiles hit a coast guard headquarters, while another hit a building in the Tawahi district.
Saree said Houthi forces had attacked Saudi-backed military gatherings at Al-Nasr camp and a naval base in Aden. He claimed Saudi officers were overseeing the mobilisation.
