The Saudi Arabia led coalition fighting the Houthis has said that the Yemeni group has attacked a power distribution station that supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque in the holy city of Madina.
The coalition said that the attack damaged one transformer but did not disrupt the wider power network. A Houthi military source rejected the claim as a “lie,” according to the Houthi-run Saba news agency.
The coalition said that an investigation and an examination of drone wreckage linked the Houthis to Tuesday’s attack, accusing the group of planning and carrying it out.
The Houthis later reported Saudi air strikes on Sanaa and other parts of Yemen, although Saudi Arabia did not immediately confirm the strikes.
A spokesperson for Yemen’s armed forces, which are aligned with the internationally recognised government, also said that coalition forces had attacked what he described as “high-value targets” in Sanaa. He did not provide further details.
The latest escalation marks the most serious fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthis since a United Nations (UN)-brokered truce largely stopped cross-border attacks in 2022.
The Houthis resumed attacks this year after declaring a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in July and launching attacks on Saudi territory and shipping. Houthi forces also made territorial gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
Saudi Arabia responded with air strikes in Yemen while supporting government forces fighting the Houthis.
The Houthi military source, quoted by Saba, said that the coalition’s accusation aimed to cover up what he described as Saudi Arabia’s failure to prove an earlier claim that the Houthis had targeted the holy city of Makkah.
Saudi Arabia said two weeks ago that it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah before it entered restricted airspace over the city. The coalition called it the second Houthi attempt to target Makkah since 2017.
The Houthis denied targeting Makkah or any other Islamic holy site.
The coalition accused the Houthis of repeatedly attempting to target the two Holy Mosques and said that it will continue measures to protect the holy sites and pilgrims.
Pakistan on Friday condemned the alleged Houthi attack on the Taibah power distribution station in Madina, calling it a “grave provocation” and a threat to regional peace and security.
In a statement, the Foreign Office (FO) said the attack targeted civilian infrastructure supplying electricity to the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) Mosque.
“The sanctity of the Two Holy Mosques and the safety of worshippers and pilgrims must be respected under all circumstances,” the FO said.
The FO called for an “immediate and unconditional” end to what it described as “reckless actions” and reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unwavering solidarity” with Saudi Arabia.
It also expressed full support for the kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.
“Pakistan stands firmly with Saudi Arabia in its efforts to safeguard the Two Holy Mosques, protect its people and ensure the safety of pilgrims,” the statement said.
The FO added that Pakistan had been and will continue to make efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.
The coalition also said that it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis towards Khamis Mushait in southern Saudi Arabia. The coalition did not give details about possible damage or casualties.
Local officials said early Friday that the Houthis had also targeted the headquarters of the Saudi-led coalition command in Aden with several ballistic missiles and drones. Neither the coalition nor the Houthis immediately commented on the claim.
