Pakistan has strongly condemned a reported Houthi drone attack targeting the holy city of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar saying the incident violated Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In a statement, Dar said, “Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms the Houthi militia’s reprehensible drone attack targeting the Holy City of Makkah Al-Mukarramah.”
He said the reported attack was “a provocative act” that violated Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and “gravely offends the religious sentiments of the Muslims worldwide”, and threatened regional peace and security.
Dar added that Pakistan stood firmly with the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia in safeguarding the sanctity and security of the Two Holy Mosques, the Haramain Sharifain, and ensuring the safety of pilgrims, citizens and residents.
The statement came after Saudi Arabia said its air defences had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone before it entered the prohibited airspace around Makkah.
Saudi-led coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said the drone had been launched by the Houthis and was intercepted before entering the restricted airspace of the holy city.
The Houthis denied targeting Makkah. Hazem al-Assad, a member of the Houthi politburo, rejected the Saudi account, calling the claim a “worn-out lie” that had been used previously.
“The claims about targeting Makkah are a worn-out lie that has been used before and no longer fools anyone,” he said.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also condemned what it described as Houthi attacks on Makkah and the Madinah region, calling them continued aggression against Saudi Arabia.
