Saudi-Led Coalition Accuses Iran-Backed Houthis of Drone Attack on Power Facility in Madinah

RIYADH (Terror Monitor) — A Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen has accused the Iran-backed Houthis of carrying out a drone attack on an electricity distribution station in the holy city of Madinah, a facility that supplies power to the Prophet’s Mosque, as renewed fighting in Yemen prompted diplomatic condemnation and further military action against Houthi positions.

Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki said the attack took place at 5:11 a.m. on September 29, targeting the Taibah electricity distribution station in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Al-Maliki said investigations by the relevant authorities, including an operational review and examination of the drone wreckage, had led the coalition to conclude that the Iran-backed Houthi militia was responsible for planning and carrying out the attack.

The coalition said the strike caused one electrical transformer to go out of service but did not disrupt the wider electricity network. Al-Maliki added that the facility supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites.

Madinah, where the Prophet Muhammad is buried and the Prophet’s Mosque is located, is Islam’s second-holiest city after Makkah.

Al-Maliki described the incident as an attack on civilian infrastructure serving a major Islamic holy site. He also accused the Houthis of continuing attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah, allegations that the group has rejected.

The coalition said it would continue taking measures to deter the Houthis and protect the two holy cities and the safety of pilgrims.

Houthis Deny Responsibility

A Houthi military source rejected the coalition’s accusation, describing it as false and arguing that Saudi Arabia was attempting to divert attention from its failure to substantiate an earlier allegation that the group had targeted Makkah.

The latest exchange of accusations comes approximately two weeks after Saudi authorities said they had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone before it entered the restricted airspace of Makkah, south of the city.

The Saudi-led coalition described that incident as the Houthis’ second attempt to target Makkah since 2017. The Houthis denied targeting Makkah or any other Islamic holy site.

The competing claims have heightened tensions surrounding the protection of Islamic religious sites and the wider conflict involving Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. The coalition has cited its investigation and examination of drone debris as the basis for its latest accusation, while the Houthis have denied responsibility.

The circumstances of the Madinah incident and the competing allegations concerning the earlier reported drone interception remain disputed between the two sides.

Muslim Countries and Regional Organisations Condemn Attack

The reported attack prompted condemnations from several Muslim-majority countries and regional organisations, including Turkey, Qatar, the Arab League and Al-Azhar, the Cairo-based institution known for its Islamic scholarship.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned the incident, saying attacks that threaten Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and security while endangering Islamic holy sites should cease immediately and unconditionally.

Qatar also denounced the reported attack, describing it as a serious violation of the sanctity of Islamic holy places, Saudi sovereignty and international law.

The Arab League called the incident an unacceptable violation, warning that targeting a facility associated with the Prophet’s Mosque could offend Muslims around the world and contribute to a dangerous escalation of regional tensions.

Al-Azhar likewise condemned the incident, saying that targeting Madinah would hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims worldwide.

The statements reflected a broader expression of solidarity with Saudi Arabia over the reported attack and concern about the security of Islamic holy sites.

Fighting Intensifies in Yemen

The allegations concerning the Madinah attack emerged as fighting intensified in Yemen, where forces aligned with the internationally recognised government have reported renewed air operations against Houthi positions.

On Friday, a spokesperson for the Yemeni armed forces said government warplanes had carried out 20 precision airstrikes in Taiz province over a three-hour period.

According to the spokesperson, the strikes targeted Houthi movements, reinforcements, gatherings, personnel, vehicles and military equipment. The military said the attacks directly hit their intended targets and inflicted losses on Houthi personnel and equipment.

The statement was published on the social media platform X. The Houthis had not immediately commented on the reported strikes at the time of publication.

The air operations form part of a broader escalation in Yemen, where renewed clashes between Houthi forces and troops aligned with the internationally recognised government have intensified in recent weeks.

The latest developments also underscore the regional implications of the conflict, particularly for Saudi Arabia, which has faced repeated security threats linked to the Houthis over the course of the Yemen war.

Regional Security Concerns

The reported drone attack on the Madinah electricity facility, the diplomatic reactions it triggered and the renewed fighting in Yemen have raised further concerns about the potential for the conflict to spread or intensify across the region.

For Saudi Arabia and its partners, protecting civilian infrastructure and preventing attacks on major religious sites remain central security concerns. The coalition has said it will continue measures aimed at deterring Houthi attacks.

The Houthis, meanwhile, have denied responsibility for the Madinah incident and rejected accusations that they have sought to target Islamic holy sites.

With fighting continuing in Yemen and the parties maintaining conflicting accounts of the reported attack, the prospect of further escalation remains a concern for regional governments and international observers.